Junior Bridgeman vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Junior Bridgeman, 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.

Junior Bridgeman played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Junior Bridgeman had the first of his seasons in 1975-76, 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
Junior Bridgeman 12 6 1975-76 to 1986-87
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1975-761963-64
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost West 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 81 20.3 8.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 1.9 0.6 0.3 - 2.9 3.5 8.0 .439 - - - 1.6 2.0 .795
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 3 22.3 8.3 1.3 2.3 3.7 1.7 0.3 0.0 - 3.3 3.0 6.7 .450 - - - 2.3 3.7 .636
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771964-65
Team Milwaukee BucksSan 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 82 29.4 14.4 1.6 3.5 5.1 2.5 1.0 0.3 - 2.7 6.0 13.3 .449 - - - 2.4 2.8 .864
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781965-66
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 82 22.9 13.6 1.4 2.1 3.5 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.1 2.5 5.8 11.5 .503 - - - 2.0 2.5 .810
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 9 19.8 10.4 0.7 1.3 2.0 1.2 1.0 0.2 0.9 3.4 4.9 10.1 .484 - - - 0.7 0.9 .750
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791966-67
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 82 23.9 15.5 1.4 2.2 3.6 2.0 1.1 0.5 1.7 2.2 6.6 13.0 .506 - - - 2.3 2.8 .829
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801967-68
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 81 28.6 17.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 2.9 1.2 0.2 2.1 2.7 7.3 15.3 .478 0.1 0.3 .185 2.8 3.3 .865
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 5 24.8 10.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 3.4 1.0 0.4 2.8 3.4 4.0 11.2 .357 0.0 0.2 .000 2.2 3.0 .733
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 77 28.8 16.8 1.0 2.7 3.8 3.0 1.1 0.4 1.9 2.4 7.0 14.3 .487 0.0 0.3 .143 2.8 3.1 .884
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 7 26.1 14.0 0.9 1.3 2.1 3.3 0.9 0.0 1.6 3.9 6.0 13.0 .462 0.1 0.1 1.000 1.9 2.3 .813
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821969-70
Team Milwaukee BucksSan 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 41 22.5 12.5 0.9 2.1 3.0 2.7 0.7 0.1 1.6 2.2 5.1 10.6 .483 0.1 0.2 .444 2.2 2.5 .864
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831970-71
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 70 26.5 14.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 3.0 0.6 0.1 1.7 2.2 6.0 12.2 .492 0.0 0.2 .077 2.3 2.8 .837
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 9 34.2 16.9 2.3 2.7 5.0 3.1 1.1 0.2 2.1 2.9 6.8 14.4 .469 0.2 0.6 .400 3.1 3.3 .933
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841971-72
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 81 30.0 15.1 1.0 3.1 4.1 3.3 0.7 0.2 1.8 2.8 6.3 13.5 .465 0.1 0.4 .194 2.4 3.0 .807
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 %
Junior Bridgeman 16 31.2 14.4 0.8 3.3 4.0 2.8 0.4 0.3 1.4 2.3 5.5 12.1 .456 0.1 0.6 .111 3.3 4.1 .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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851972-73
Team Los Angeles ClippersGolden 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 80 25.5 13.9 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.1 0.6 0.2 1.5 1.6 5.8 12.4 .465 0.2 0.5 .359 2.3 2.6 .879
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861973-74
Team Los Angeles ClippersGolden 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 58 20.0 8.8 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.9 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.4 3.4 7.8 .441 0.1 0.3 .333 1.8 2.1 .891
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871974-75
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago 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 %
Junior Bridgeman 34 12.3 5.1 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.4 1.5 2.3 5.0 .462 0.0 0.2 .167 0.5 0.6 .800
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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

Junior Bridgeman Nate Thurmond
Season -1975-76
Team -Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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

Junior Bridgeman 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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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 %
Junior Bridgeman ------- --- ----------
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 -