Paul Arizin vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Paul Arizin, 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.

Paul Arizin played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Paul Arizin had the first of his seasons in 1950-51, 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
Paul Arizin 10 8 1950-51 to 1961-62
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1950-511963-64
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div 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 %
Paul Arizin 65 - 17.2 - - 9.8 2.1 - - - 4.4 5.4 13.3 .407 - - - 6.4 8.1 .793
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 %
Paul Arizin 2 - 20.5 - - 10.0 1.5 - - - 5.0 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 6.5 8.0 .813
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

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1951-521964-65
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East 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 %
Paul Arizin 66 44.5 25.4 - - 11.3 2.6 - - - 3.8 8.3 18.5 .448 - - - 8.8 10.7 .818
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 %
Paul Arizin 3 40.0 25.7 - - 12.7 2.7 - - - 5.7 8.0 17.7 .453 - - - 9.7 11.0 .879
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Note: Paul Arizin didn't play in 1952-53 and 1953-54.

Season 3

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1954-551965-66
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Paul Arizin 72 41.0 21.0 - - 9.4 2.9 - - - 3.8 7.3 18.4 .399 - - - 6.3 8.1 .776
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1955-561966-67
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Paul Arizin 72 37.8 24.2 - - 7.5 2.6 - - - 3.9 8.6 19.1 .448 - - - 7.0 8.7 .810
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 %
Paul Arizin 10 40.9 28.9 - - 8.4 2.9 - - - 3.1 10.3 22.9 .450 - - - 8.3 9.9 .838
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

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1956-571967-68
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East 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 %
Paul Arizin 71 39.0 25.6 - - 7.9 2.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 20.4 .422 - - - 8.3 10.0 .829
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 %
Paul Arizin 2 11.0 4.5 - - 4.0 0.5 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 1.5 2.5 .600
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1957-581968-69
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsWarriors 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 %
Paul Arizin 68 35.0 20.7 - - 7.4 2.0 - - - 3.5 7.1 18.1 .393 - - - 6.5 8.0 .809
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 %
Paul Arizin 8 38.6 23.5 - - 7.8 2.0 - - - 3.3 8.3 21.1 .391 - - - 7.0 9.0 .778
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

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1958-591969-70
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Paul Arizin 70 40.0 26.4 - - 9.1 1.7 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.9 .431 - - - 8.4 10.3 .813
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1959-601970-71
Team Philadelphia WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div 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 %
Paul Arizin 72 36.4 22.3 - - 8.6 2.3 - - - 3.7 8.2 19.4 .424 - - - 5.8 7.3 .798
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 %
Paul Arizin 9 41.2 26.3 - - 9.6 3.7 - - - 3.2 9.3 21.7 .431 - - - 7.7 8.8 .873
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

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1960-611971-72
Team Philadelphia WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisWarriors 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 %
Paul Arizin 79 37.2 23.2 - - 8.6 2.4 - - - 4.2 8.2 19.4 .425 - - - 6.7 8.1 .833
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 %
Paul Arizin 3 41.7 22.3 - - 8.7 4.0 - - - 5.7 7.3 22.3 .328 - - - 7.7 11.0 .697
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

Paul Arizin Nate Thurmond
Season 1961-621972-73
Team Philadelphia WarriorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div FinalsWarriors 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 %
Paul Arizin 78 35.7 21.9 - - 6.8 2.6 - - - 3.9 7.8 19.1 .410 - - - 6.2 7.7 .805
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 %
Paul Arizin 12 38.3 23.2 - - 6.7 2.2 - - - 3.7 7.9 21.1 .375 - - - 7.3 8.5 .863
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

Paul Arizin 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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Paul Arizin 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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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

Paul Arizin 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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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

Paul Arizin 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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Paul Arizin ------- --- ----------
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 -