Grant Long vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Grant Long, 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.

Grant Long played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Grant Long had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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
Grant Long 15 7 1988-89 to 2002-03
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15

Rookie Season

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891963-64
Team Miami HeatSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 82 29.7 11.9 2.9 3.7 6.7 1.8 1.5 0.6 2.5 4.1 4.1 8.4 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 5.0 .749
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901964-65
Team Miami HeatSan 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 %
Grant Long 81 22.9 8.5 1.9 3.0 5.0 1.2 1.1 0.5 1.7 3.7 3.2 6.6 .483 0.0 0.0 .000 2.1 3.0 .714
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911965-66
Team Miami HeatSan 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 %
Grant Long 80 31.4 9.2 2.8 4.3 7.1 2.2 1.5 0.5 2.0 3.7 3.5 7.0 .492 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 2.9 .787
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921966-67
Team Miami HeatSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Grant Long 82 37.4 14.8 3.2 5.3 8.4 2.7 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.0 5.4 10.9 .494 0.1 0.3 .273 4.0 4.9 .807
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 %
Grant Long 3 40.0 12.3 2.3 2.7 5.0 2.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 3.7 5.0 12.0 .417 0.0 1.3 .000 2.3 3.3 .700
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931967-68
Team Miami HeatSan 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 %
Grant Long 76 35.9 14.0 2.6 4.9 7.5 2.4 1.4 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.2 11.1 .469 0.1 0.3 .231 3.4 4.5 .765
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941968-69
Team Miami HeatSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Grant Long 69 31.9 11.4 2.8 4.4 7.2 2.5 1.3 0.4 1.8 3.5 4.3 9.7 .446 0.0 0.1 .167 2.7 3.4 .786
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 %
Grant Long 4 27.5 12.3 2.5 2.0 4.5 1.8 0.8 0.5 2.5 4.0 3.5 9.0 .389 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 6.8 .778
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951969-70
Team Miami Heat, Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 81 32.6 11.6 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.6 1.3 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.2 8.8 .478 0.1 0.4 .355 3.0 4.0 .751
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 %
Grant Long 3 36.7 13.7 4.3 7.0 11.3 1.3 1.3 0.3 2.7 3.7 4.7 9.3 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 4.3 6.0 .722
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961970-71
Team Atlanta HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Grant Long 82 36.7 13.1 3.0 6.6 9.6 2.2 1.3 0.4 1.9 2.8 4.8 10.2 .471 0.4 1.0 .360 3.1 4.1 .763
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 %
Grant Long 10 36.2 11.4 3.0 5.6 8.6 2.8 0.7 0.3 1.9 2.7 4.4 11.1 .396 0.6 2.4 .250 2.0 2.5 .800
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971971-72
Team Detroit PistonsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Grant Long 65 17.9 5.0 1.4 2.1 3.4 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.2 .447 0.3 0.7 .362 1.0 1.3 .750
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 %
Grant Long 5 17.4 5.0 0.8 1.4 2.2 0.6 0.8 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.6 3.6 .444 0.0 0.4 .000 1.8 2.2 .818
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981972-73
Team Detroit PistonsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Grant Long 40 18.5 3.5 1.4 2.3 3.8 0.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 2.3 1.3 2.9 .427 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 1.4 .719
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991973-74
Team Atlanta HawksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-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 %
Grant Long 50 27.6 9.8 2.0 3.9 5.9 1.1 1.1 0.3 1.5 2.9 3.0 7.2 .421 0.1 0.4 .167 3.7 4.7 .783
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 %
Grant Long 9 39.8 11.7 3.1 5.1 8.2 0.9 2.0 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.0 9.8 .409 0.1 0.4 .250 3.6 4.9 .727
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001974-75
Team Vancouver GrizzliesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Grant Long 42 21.9 4.8 2.0 3.5 5.6 1.0 1.1 0.2 1.2 2.6 1.8 4.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .775
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-011975-76
Team Vancouver GrizzliesChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Grant Long 66 22.8 6.0 1.2 3.0 4.2 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.9 2.4 2.1 4.8 .439 0.1 0.2 .267 1.7 2.4 .713
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
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

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 2001-021976-77
Team Memphis GrizzliesCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Grant Long 66 28.3 6.3 0.5 3.0 3.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.6 1.9 2.5 5.8 .426 0.0 0.3 .176 1.3 1.9 .699
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 %
Grant Long ------- --- ----------
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 -

Season 15

Grant Long Nate Thurmond
Season 2002-03-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 41 11.9 1.8 0.6 1.4 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.5 1.5 0.7 1.7 .386 0.0 0.1 .000 0.4 0.6 .783
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Grant Long 8 4.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------