Nate Thurmond vs. George Yardley Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of George Yardley 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, 7 more than George Yardley, who played 7. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while George Yardley had his rookie season in 1953-54. 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
George Yardley 7 7 1953-54 to 1959-60

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 George Yardley
Season 1963-641953-54
Team San Francisco WarriorsFort Wayne Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost W Div Round Robin
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
George Yardley 63 23.6 9.0 - - 6.5 1.6 - - - 2.6 3.3 7.8 .425 - - - 2.3 3.3 .712
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
George Yardley 4 26.8 10.5 - - 6.0 0.8 - - - 2.5 4.0 8.3 .485 - - - 2.5 3.0 .833

Season 2
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1964-651954-55
Team San Francisco WarriorsFort Wayne Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
George Yardley 60 35.8 17.3 - - 9.9 2.1 - - - 3.4 6.1 14.5 .418 - - - 5.2 6.9 .745
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
George Yardley 11 38.2 15.8 - - 9.0 3.3 - - - 3.4 5.2 13.0 .399 - - - 5.5 7.2 .759

Season 3
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1965-661955-56
Team San Francisco WarriorsFort Wayne Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
George Yardley 71 33.1 17.4 - - 9.7 2.2 - - - 3.0 6.1 15.0 .407 - - - 5.1 6.9 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
George Yardley 10 40.6 23.0 - - 13.9 2.6 - - - 2.5 7.7 18.3 .421 - - - 7.6 9.8 .776

Season 4
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1966-671956-57
Team San Francisco WarriorsFort Wayne Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 %
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
George Yardley 72 37.4 21.5 - - 10.5 2.0 - - - 3.2 7.3 17.7 .410 - - - 7.0 8.9 .787
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
George Yardley 2 42.5 28.5 - - 9.5 4.0 - - - 3.5 12.0 26.5 .453 - - - 4.5 5.5 .818

Season 5
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1967-681957-58
Team San Francisco WarriorsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost West Div Finals
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
George Yardley 72 39.5 27.8 - - 10.7 1.3 - - - 3.1 9.3 22.6 .414 - - - 9.1 11.2 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
George Yardley 7 36.3 23.4 - - 10.3 2.4 - - - 3.7 7.4 18.1 .409 - - - 8.6 9.6 .896

Season 6
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1968-691958-59
Team San Francisco WarriorsDetroit Pistons, Syracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisNationals Lost East Div Finals
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
George Yardley 61 30.1 19.8 - - 7.1 1.1 - - - 2.6 7.3 17.1 .428 - - - 5.2 6.7 .779
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
George Yardley 9 37.0 25.1 - - 9.7 2.3 - - - 3.2 9.2 21.0 .439 - - - 6.7 7.8 .857

Season 7
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1969-701959-60
Team San Francisco WarriorsSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNationals Lost East Div Semis
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
George Yardley 73 32.9 20.2 - - 7.9 1.7 - - - 3.1 7.5 16.5 .453 - - - 5.2 6.4 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
George Yardley 3 29.3 13.3 - - 5.7 0.3 - - - 3.0 5.0 13.0 .385 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 8
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1970-71-
Team San Francisco Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1971-72-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------

Season 10
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
Season 1972-73-
Team Golden State Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors 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 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
George Yardley ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Nate Thurmond George Yardley
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
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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 -
George Yardley ------- --- ----------
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