Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 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.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 20 years in the NBA, 6 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the first of his seasons in 1969-70, 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 achievements, 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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 20 18 1969-70 to 1988-89
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1969-701963-64
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Div FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 43.1 28.8 - - 14.5 4.1 - - - 3.5 11.4 22.1 .518 - - - 5.9 9.1 .653
difference:+6+17.2+21.8+4.1+3.0-1.1+8.5+14.8+.123+4.6+6.8+.104
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10 43.5 35.2 - - 16.8 4.1 - - - 2.5 13.9 24.5 .567 - - - 7.4 10.1 .733
difference:+2+9.3+25.2+4.5+3.3-1.3+10.4+16.5+.129+4.4+5.7+.054
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1970-711964-65
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 40.1 31.7 - - 16.0 3.3 - - - 3.2 13.0 22.5 .577 - - - 5.7 8.3 .690
difference:+5+1.1+15.2+2.1+1.3-0.2+6.3+6.4+.158+2.6+3.7+.032
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 41.2 26.6 - - 17.0 2.5 - - - 3.2 10.9 21.1 .515 - - - 4.9 7.2 .673
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1971-721965-66
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 44.2 34.8 - - 16.6 4.6 - - - 2.9 14.3 24.9 .574 - - - 6.2 9.0 .689
difference:+8+4.6+18.5+1.4+3.1-0.2+8.1+9.6+.168+2.4+3.1+.035
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 46.4 28.7 - - 18.2 5.1 - - - 3.2 12.6 28.9 .437 - - - 3.5 4.9 .704
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1972-731966-67
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 42.8 30.2 - - 16.1 5.0 - - - 2.7 12.9 23.3 .554 - - - 4.3 6.1 .713
difference:+11+0.3+11.5+5.2+2.4-0.1+5.7+6.9+.117+0.7+.084
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 6 46.0 22.8 - - 16.2 2.8 - - - 4.3 9.8 23.0 .428 - - - 3.2 5.8 .543
difference:+9+6.9+6.9+0.3-0.8+3.6+8.7+.005+0.3+0.3+.028
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1973-741967-68
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bucks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 81 43.8 27.0 3.5 11.0 14.5 4.8 1.4 3.5 - 2.9 11.7 21.7 .539 - - - 3.6 5.2 .702
difference:+30+0.2+6.5+7.5+0.6-0.2+4.2+3.5+.128+1.9+3.4+.058
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 16 47.4 32.2 4.2 11.6 15.8 4.9 1.3 2.4 - 2.6 14.0 25.1 .557 - - - 4.2 5.7 .736
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1974-751968-69
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 65 42.3 30.0 3.0 11.0 14.0 4.1 1.0 3.3 - 3.2 12.5 24.4 .513 - - - 5.0 6.6 .763
difference:+6+2.9+8.5+5.7+0.5-0.8+4.5+4.8+.103+0.4+2.1+.148
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar DNP------ --- ----------
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1975-761969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 41.2 27.7 3.3 13.5 16.9 5.0 1.5 4.1 - 3.6 11.1 21.1 .529 - - - 5.5 7.8 .703
difference:+39+3.4+5.8+0.8+1.5-1.0+3.2+1.9+.115+0.6+0.2+.051
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
* Neiher Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nor Nate Thurmond played in the postseason in their season 7

Season 8
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 36.8 26.2 3.2 10.0 13.3 3.9 1.2 3.2 - 3.2 10.8 18.7 .579 - - - 4.6 6.5 .701
difference:+4.1+6.2+0.5+0.8-0.9+3.2+1.6+.134+0.2+0.1+.029
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 42.5 34.6 4.6 13.1 17.7 4.1 1.7 3.5 - 3.8 13.4 22.0 .607 - - - 7.9 10.9 .725
difference:+6+4.1+17.0+7.5+1.1-0.2+6.2+2.6+.236+4.7+6.9+.075
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 62 36.5 25.8 3.0 9.9 12.9 4.3 1.7 3.0 3.4 2.9 10.7 19.4 .550 - - - 4.4 5.6 .783
difference:+16+6.6+4.4+3.2+1.4-0.2+2.6+0.8+.118+0.9+1.6+.040
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 27.0 4.7 9.0 13.7 3.7 0.7 4.0 4.7 4.7 12.7 24.3 .521 - - - 1.7 3.0 .556
difference:+2+1.3+1.6+4.1+1.5-2.3+2.1+0.1+.087+2.5+2.6+.194
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 39.5 23.8 2.6 10.2 12.8 5.4 1.0 4.0 3.5 2.9 9.7 16.8 .577 - - - 4.4 5.9 .736
difference:+1+3.8+6.7+4.3+1.9-0.1+3.2+2.1+.131+0.4+0.3+.018
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 8 45.9 28.5 2.3 10.4 12.6 4.8 1.0 4.1 3.6 3.3 11.0 19.0 .579 - - - 6.5 7.8 .839
difference:+3+4.1+14.0+0.6+1.2-0.6+5.2+4.4+.181+3.6+4.2+.039
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 82 38.3 24.8 2.3 8.5 10.8 4.5 1.0 3.4 3.6 2.6 10.2 16.9 .604 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 5.8 .765
difference:+20+1.4+11.8+1.7+1.6+3.4+1.8+0.3+0.5-0.3+5.2+5.7+.160+1.3+1.2+.099
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 41.2 31.9 3.4 8.7 12.1 3.1 1.1 3.9 3.7 3.4 13.2 23.1 .572 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 7.0 .790
Nate Thurmond DNP------ --- ----------

Season 12
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 80 37.2 26.2 2.5 7.8 10.3 3.4 0.7 2.9 3.1 3.1 10.5 18.2 .574 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 6.9 .766
difference:+2.7+18.3+0.7+0.3+1.0+0.7+0.1+0.5-0.3+7.4+9.6+.210+3.6+4.1+.177
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 3 44.7 26.7 4.3 12.3 16.7 4.0 1.0 2.7 3.7 4.7 10.0 21.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 6.7 9.3 .714
difference:+10+25.2+23.2+2.5+7.5+10.0+1.6+0.6+1.1-1.9+8.9+18.8+.094+5.3+6.5+.228
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 76 35.2 23.9 2.3 6.4 8.7 3.0 0.8 2.7 3.0 2.9 9.9 17.1 .579 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .706
difference:+2+17.3+19.5+0.8+2.6+3.4+1.8+0.5+1.4-0.8+8.1+12.8+.158+3.3+4.2+.202
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 14 35.2 20.4 2.4 6.1 8.5 3.6 1.0 3.2 2.9 3.2 8.2 15.8 .520 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 6.2 .632
difference:+1+6.4+13.7+0.5+0.5+1.4+0.5+1.0-0.8+5.4+9.7+.052+2.9+3.7+.226
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
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 79 32.3 21.8 2.1 5.4 7.5 2.5 0.8 2.2 2.5 2.8 9.1 15.5 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 4.7 .749
difference:+30+12.0+16.3+0.4+0.2+0.1+0.8+0.5+0.5-0.2+7.1+10.5+.181+2.1+2.5+.107
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 15 39.2 27.1 1.7 6.0 7.7 2.8 1.1 3.7 3.3 4.1 10.9 19.1 .568 0.0 0.1 .000 5.3 7.1 .755
difference:+14+38.2+27.1+1.7+5.0+6.7+2.8+1.1+2.7-4.1+10.9+19.1+5.3+7.1
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 -

Additional Years

* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played 6 seasons more than Nate Thurmond in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 20, from 1984 to 1989—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played in 6 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 6 extra years over Nate Thurmond, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Finals MVP
Achievement 2 All-NBA First Team
Achievement 1 All-NBA Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 6 All-Star Game
Share: