Sean Elliott vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Sean Elliott, 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.

Sean Elliott played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Sean Elliott had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Sean Elliott 12 9 1989-90 to 2000-01
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901963-64
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 81 25.1 10.0 1.6 2.1 3.7 1.9 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.1 3.8 8.0 .481 0.0 0.1 .111 2.3 2.7 .866
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 29.1 12.7 1.1 3.0 4.1 1.8 0.9 0.6 1.5 3.7 5.3 9.6 .552 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.9 .724
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911964-65
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Sean Elliott 82 37.1 15.9 1.7 3.8 5.6 2.9 0.8 0.4 1.8 2.3 5.8 11.9 .490 0.2 0.8 .313 4.0 4.9 .808
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 %
Sean Elliott 4 33.0 14.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 4.0 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.3 4.3 10.0 .425 0.0 0.8 .000 6.3 8.0 .781
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921965-66
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Sean Elliott 82 38.0 16.3 1.7 3.6 5.4 2.6 1.0 0.4 1.9 1.8 6.3 12.7 .494 0.3 1.0 .305 3.5 4.0 .861
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 %
Sean Elliott 3 45.7 19.7 1.3 3.0 4.3 2.7 1.0 1.3 2.0 2.0 6.3 13.3 .475 1.7 2.7 .625 5.3 6.0 .889
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931966-67
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Sean Elliott 70 37.2 17.2 1.2 3.4 4.6 3.8 1.0 0.4 2.2 1.9 6.4 13.1 .491 0.5 1.5 .356 3.8 4.8 .795
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 38.1 15.8 0.8 4.0 4.8 3.6 0.8 0.3 2.2 2.2 5.9 12.5 .472 0.3 1.4 .214 3.7 4.0 .925
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941967-68
Team Detroit PistonsSan 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 %
Sean Elliott 73 33.0 12.1 0.9 2.7 3.6 2.7 0.7 0.4 1.8 2.4 4.9 10.8 .455 0.4 1.2 .299 1.9 2.4 .803
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951968-69
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Sean Elliott 81 35.3 18.1 0.8 2.8 3.5 2.5 1.0 0.5 1.9 2.7 6.2 13.2 .468 1.7 4.1 .408 4.0 5.0 .807
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 %
Sean Elliott 15 38.3 17.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.7 0.7 0.5 1.8 2.5 5.8 13.3 .435 1.3 3.7 .364 4.4 5.7 .776
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961969-70
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Sean Elliott 77 37.7 20.0 0.9 4.2 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.4 2.6 2.3 6.8 14.6 .466 2.1 5.1 .411 4.2 5.5 .771
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 %
Sean Elliott 10 38.9 15.5 1.1 2.8 3.9 2.5 1.1 0.4 3.0 2.4 4.7 11.7 .402 1.0 3.4 .294 5.1 6.4 .797
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971970-71
Team San Antonio SpursSan 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 %
Sean Elliott 39 35.7 14.9 1.2 3.6 4.9 3.2 0.6 0.6 2.3 2.7 5.0 11.9 .422 1.1 3.2 .333 3.8 5.0 .755
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981971-72
Team San Antonio SpursGolden 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 %
Sean Elliott 36 28.1 9.3 0.4 3.0 3.4 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.6 2.6 3.4 8.4 .403 0.9 2.5 .378 1.6 2.2 .718
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991972-73
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
Sean Elliott 50 30.2 11.2 0.7 3.6 4.3 2.3 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.1 4.2 10.1 .410 0.8 2.4 .328 2.1 2.8 .757
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 %
Sean Elliott 17 33.8 11.9 0.6 2.8 3.4 2.6 0.5 0.2 1.2 2.9 4.0 9.0 .444 1.3 3.2 .400 2.6 3.5 .763
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

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001973-74
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Sean Elliott 19 20.6 6.0 0.3 2.2 2.5 1.5 0.6 0.1 1.0 1.8 2.0 5.6 .358 0.7 1.9 .351 1.3 1.7 .781
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 %
Sean Elliott 4 29.8 10.0 0.3 5.3 5.5 1.3 0.0 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.8 10.0 .375 1.3 3.3 .385 1.3 2.0 .625
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Sean Elliott Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-011974-75
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
Sean Elliott 52 23.6 7.9 0.3 2.9 3.3 1.6 0.4 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.8 6.5 .434 1.1 2.5 .426 1.2 1.6 .714
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 %
Sean Elliott 12 19.9 4.8 0.3 1.9 2.2 1.2 0.4 0.5 1.1 1.8 1.6 4.3 .373 0.7 1.8 .364 0.9 0.9 1.000
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

Sean Elliott 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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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

Sean Elliott 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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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 %
Sean Elliott ------- --- ----------
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 -