Doc Rivers vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Doc Rivers, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Doc Rivers played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Doc Rivers had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Nate Thurmond had his rookie season in 1963-64. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Doc Rivers 13 10 1983-84 to 1995-96
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841963-64
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 81 23.9 9.3 0.9 1.8 2.7 3.9 1.6 0.4 2.1 3.5 3.1 6.7 .462 0.0 0.1 .167 3.1 4.0 .785
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 5 26.0 13.6 1.4 0.6 2.0 3.2 2.4 0.8 1.8 3.2 3.2 6.4 .500 0.0 0.6 .000 7.2 8.2 .878
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679

Season 2

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851964-65
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 69 30.8 14.1 1.0 2.1 3.1 5.9 2.4 0.8 2.6 3.6 4.8 10.2 .476 0.2 0.5 .417 4.2 5.5 .770
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861965-66
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 53 29.6 11.5 0.9 2.1 3.1 8.4 2.3 0.2 2.7 3.5 4.2 8.8 .474 0.0 0.3 .000 3.2 5.3 .608
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 9 29.1 12.7 1.1 3.6 4.7 8.7 2.0 0.0 2.9 4.2 4.4 10.2 .435 0.3 0.7 .500 3.4 4.7 .738
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871966-67
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 82 31.6 12.8 1.0 2.6 3.6 10.0 2.1 0.4 2.6 3.5 4.2 9.2 .451 0.0 0.3 .190 4.5 5.4 .828
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 8 30.6 7.8 0.8 2.6 3.4 11.3 1.1 0.4 3.1 4.0 2.3 5.9 .383 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 6.5 .500
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571

Season 5

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881967-68
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 80 31.3 14.2 1.0 3.5 4.6 9.3 1.8 0.5 2.6 3.4 5.0 11.1 .453 0.1 0.4 .273 4.0 5.3 .758
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 12 34.1 15.7 0.7 4.3 4.9 9.6 2.1 0.2 2.1 3.3 5.9 11.6 .511 0.6 1.8 .318 3.3 3.6 .907
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891968-69
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 76 32.4 13.6 1.2 2.6 3.8 6.9 2.4 0.5 2.1 3.5 4.9 10.7 .455 0.6 1.6 .347 3.3 3.8 .861
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 5 38.2 13.4 0.8 4.0 4.8 6.8 1.4 0.4 2.4 4.4 4.4 11.4 .386 1.2 3.8 .316 3.4 4.8 .708
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588

Season 7

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901969-70
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 48 31.8 12.5 1.0 3.2 4.2 5.5 2.4 0.5 2.0 3.1 4.5 10.0 .454 0.5 1.4 .364 2.9 3.5 .812
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911970-71
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 79 32.7 15.2 0.6 2.6 3.2 4.3 1.9 0.6 1.6 2.7 5.6 12.9 .435 1.1 3.3 .336 2.8 3.3 .844
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 5 34.6 15.6 1.2 2.8 4.0 3.0 1.0 0.4 0.8 2.8 6.0 12.8 .469 0.2 2.2 .091 3.4 3.8 .895
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800

Season 9

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921971-72
Team Los Angeles ClippersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 59 28.1 10.9 0.4 2.1 2.5 3.9 1.9 0.3 1.6 2.8 3.8 9.0 .424 0.4 1.6 .283 2.8 3.3 .832
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 5 37.4 15.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 4.2 1.2 0.0 0.6 3.2 5.0 11.2 .446 0.8 1.6 .500 4.4 5.4 .815
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 10

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931972-73
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 77 24.5 7.8 0.3 2.2 2.5 5.3 1.6 0.1 1.5 2.8 2.8 6.4 .437 0.5 1.6 .317 1.7 2.1 .821
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 15 30.5 10.2 0.4 2.2 2.6 5.7 1.9 0.1 2.0 2.9 3.2 7.1 .453 0.7 2.1 .355 3.1 4.0 .767
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800

Season 11

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941973-74
Team New York KnicksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 19 26.3 7.5 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.3 1.3 0.3 1.5 2.3 2.9 6.7 .433 1.0 2.7 .365 0.7 1.2 .636
Nate Thurmond 62 39.7 13.0 4.0 10.1 14.2 2.7 0.7 2.9 - 2.9 5.0 11.2 .444 - - - 3.1 4.6 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951974-75
Team New York Knicks, San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsBulls Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 63 15.7 5.1 0.2 1.5 1.7 2.6 1.0 0.3 1.0 2.4 1.7 4.8 .358 0.7 2.0 .354 1.0 1.3 .732
Nate Thurmond 80 34.5 7.9 3.2 8.1 11.3 4.1 0.6 2.4 - 3.4 3.1 8.6 .364 - - - 1.7 2.8 .589
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 15 21.2 7.8 0.2 1.7 1.9 1.6 0.9 0.6 1.2 2.7 2.5 6.3 .389 1.1 3.1 .370 1.7 2.1 .839
Nate Thurmond 13 19.5 3.5 1.8 4.8 6.7 2.4 0.4 1.6 - 2.8 1.1 2.9 .368 - - - 1.4 2.8 .486

Season 13

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961975-76
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 78 15.8 4.0 0.4 1.4 1.8 1.6 0.9 0.3 0.7 2.2 1.4 3.7 .372 0.6 1.8 .343 0.6 0.8 .750
Nate Thurmond 78 17.9 4.4 1.5 3.8 5.3 1.2 0.3 1.3 - 2.1 1.8 4.3 .421 - - - 0.8 1.6 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers 2 10.0 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond 13 28.8 6.7 2.9 6.1 9.0 2.2 0.5 2.2 - 4.0 2.8 6.1 .468 - - - 1.0 2.5 .406

Season 14

Doc Rivers Nate Thurmond
Season -1976-77
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 49 20.3 5.5 2.5 5.2 7.6 1.7 0.3 1.7 - 2.6 2.0 5.0 .407 - - - 1.4 2.2 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Doc Rivers ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -