Nate Thurmond vs. Ennis Whatley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ennis Whatley and Nate Thurmond, 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.

Nate Thurmond played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Ennis Whatley, who played 10. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while Ennis Whatley had his rookie season in 1983-84. 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
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77
Ennis Whatley 10 4 1983-84 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1963-641983-84
Team San Francisco WarriorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Ennis Whatley 80 27.0 8.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 8.3 1.5 0.2 3.4 2.8 3.3 7.0 .469 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.5 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1964-651984-85
Team San Francisco WarriorsChicago Bulls
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 %
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Ennis Whatley 70 19.8 5.0 0.5 1.0 1.4 5.4 0.9 0.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 4.5 .447 0.0 0.1 .111 1.0 1.2 .791
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1965-661985-86
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers, Washington Bullets, San Antonio Spurs
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 %
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Ennis Whatley 14 7.6 2.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.6 0.4 0.1 0.7 0.7 1.1 2.5 .429 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1966-671986-87
Team San Francisco WarriorsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 %
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Ennis Whatley 73 24.9 8.5 0.8 1.9 2.7 5.4 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.4 3.4 7.1 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 1.7 2.3 .764
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571
Ennis Whatley 2 16.0 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 3.0 1.0 0.0 4.0 1.0 1.5 6.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 5

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1967-681987-88
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
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 %
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Ennis Whatley 5 4.8 2.2 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.8 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1968-691988-89
Team San Francisco WarriorsLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Ennis Whatley 8 11.3 4.3 0.3 1.8 2.0 2.8 0.9 0.1 1.4 1.9 1.5 4.1 .364 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.4 .909
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Note: Ennis Whatley didn't play in 1989-90 and 1990-91.

Season 7

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1969-701991-92
Team San Francisco WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Ennis Whatley 23 9.1 3.0 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 0.6 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.9 2.2 .412 0.0 0.2 .000 1.2 1.3 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ennis Whatley 15 6.4 1.1 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.4 1.3 .300 0.0 0.1 .000 0.3 0.3 1.000

Note: Ennis Whatley didn't play in 1992-93.

Season 8

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1970-711993-94
Team San Francisco WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Ennis Whatley 82 12.2 3.6 0.3 0.9 1.2 2.2 0.7 0.0 1.0 1.1 1.5 2.9 .508 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 0.8 .788
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800
Ennis Whatley 11 10.3 2.2 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.6 0.0 0.8 1.6 0.8 2.5 .321 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750

Season 9

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1971-721994-95
Team Golden State WarriorsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Ennis Whatley 27 10.8 2.6 0.3 0.8 1.1 2.0 0.7 0.0 0.7 1.4 0.9 2.0 .453 0.1 0.3 .250 0.7 1.2 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Ennis Whatley 3 6.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 1.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Note: Ennis Whatley didn't play in 1995-96.

Season 10

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
Season 1972-731996-97
Team Golden State WarriorsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Ennis Whatley 3 7.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.7 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
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 %
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
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
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 %
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
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
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 %
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
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Nate Thurmond Ennis Whatley
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 %
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
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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 -
Ennis Whatley ------- --- ----------