Manute Bol vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Manute Bol, 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.

Manute Bol played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Manute Bol had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, 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
Manute Bol 10 5 1985-86 to 1994-95
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861963-64
Team Washington BulletsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Manute Bol 80 26.1 3.7 1.5 4.4 6.0 0.3 0.4 5.0 0.8 3.2 1.6 3.5 .460 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 1.1 .488
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 %
Manute Bol 5 30.4 4.6 3.2 4.4 7.6 0.2 0.6 5.8 0.8 3.0 2.0 3.4 .588 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.6 .375
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871964-65
Team Washington BulletsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Manute Bol 82 18.9 3.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 0.1 0.2 3.7 0.7 2.3 1.3 2.8 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.8 .672
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 %
Manute Bol 3 14.3 2.7 1.7 1.3 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.7 0.0 2.0 1.3 3.3 .400 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.7 .000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881965-66
Team Washington BulletsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Manute Bol 77 14.8 2.3 0.9 2.6 3.6 0.2 0.1 2.7 0.5 2.1 1.0 2.1 .455 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.6 .531
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 %
Manute Bol 5 8.8 1.8 1.4 1.0 2.4 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.2 1.0 0.8 1.4 .571 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West 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 %
Manute Bol 80 22.1 3.9 1.5 4.3 5.8 0.3 0.1 4.3 1.0 2.8 1.6 4.3 .369 0.3 1.1 .220 0.5 0.8 .606
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 %
Manute Bol 8 18.5 2.3 0.6 3.3 3.9 0.1 0.3 3.6 0.4 2.6 0.9 4.5 .194 0.3 2.8 .091 0.3 0.9 .286
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901967-68
Team Golden State WarriorsSan 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 %
Manute Bol 75 17.5 1.9 0.4 3.2 3.7 0.5 0.2 3.2 0.7 2.6 0.7 2.3 .331 0.1 0.6 .188 0.3 0.7 .510
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Manute Bol 82 18.6 1.9 0.8 3.5 4.3 0.2 0.2 3.0 0.8 2.2 0.8 2.0 .396 0.0 0.2 .071 0.3 0.5 .585
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 %
Manute Bol 8 13.6 3.0 0.5 1.9 2.4 0.1 0.1 1.5 0.6 1.8 1.1 2.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.1 .667
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan 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 %
Manute Bol 71 17.8 1.5 0.8 2.4 3.1 0.3 0.2 2.9 0.6 2.0 0.7 1.8 .383 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.4 .462
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Manute Bol 58 14.7 2.2 0.8 2.6 3.3 0.3 0.2 2.1 0.9 1.5 0.9 2.2 .409 0.2 0.6 .313 0.2 0.3 .632
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941971-72
Team Miami Heat, Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors 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 %
Manute Bol 14 8.3 0.6 0.2 1.1 1.3 0.1 0.1 1.1 0.4 0.9 0.3 1.4 .211 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951972-73
Team Golden State WarriorsGolden 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 %
Manute Bol 5 16.2 3.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 0.0 0.0 1.8 0.2 2.0 1.2 2.0 .600 0.6 1.0 .600 0.0 0.0 -
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season -1973-74
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Manute Bol Nate Thurmond
Season -1974-75
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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

Manute Bol 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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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

Manute Bol 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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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 %
Manute Bol ------- --- ----------
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 -