Thurl Bailey vs. Nikola Vucevic Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nikola Vucevic and Thurl Bailey, 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.

Thurl Bailey played 12 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nikola Vucevic, who played 13. Thurl Bailey had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Nikola Vucevic had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Thurl Bailey 12 9 1983-84 to 1998-99
Nikola Vucevic 13 4 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1983-842011-12
Team Utah JazzPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf Semis76ers 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 %
Thurl Bailey 81 24.8 8.5 1.4 4.3 5.7 1.6 0.5 1.5 1.3 2.4 3.7 7.3 .512 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.4 .752
Nikola Vucevic 51 15.9 5.5 1.7 3.1 4.8 0.6 0.4 0.7 0.6 2.2 2.6 5.7 .450 0.1 0.2 .375 0.4 0.7 .529
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 30.9 10.6 1.4 4.2 5.5 0.9 0.2 1.0 1.5 3.0 4.5 8.8 .515 0.0 0.2 .000 1.5 1.9 .810
Nikola Vucevic 1 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500

Season 2

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1984-852012-13
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 80 31.0 15.2 1.9 4.7 6.6 1.7 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.7 6.3 12.9 .490 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.5 2.9 .842
Nikola Vucevic 77 33.2 13.1 3.5 8.4 11.9 1.9 0.8 1.0 1.8 2.8 6.0 11.5 .519 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .683
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 10 37.5 16.9 2.1 7.1 9.2 2.7 0.5 1.8 2.1 3.0 6.2 15.2 .408 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 5.5 .818
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1985-862013-14
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 28.8 14.6 1.8 4.2 6.0 1.9 0.5 1.4 1.8 2.0 5.9 13.1 .448 0.0 0.1 .000 2.8 3.4 .830
Nikola Vucevic 57 31.8 14.2 3.2 7.7 11.0 1.8 1.1 0.8 2.0 3.0 6.2 12.2 .507 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 4 36.8 16.0 2.8 5.3 8.0 3.3 0.5 0.5 1.3 3.3 7.0 19.3 .364 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 2.8 .727
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1986-872014-15
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 81 26.6 13.8 1.8 3.5 5.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 1.5 1.9 5.7 12.8 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 2.9 .805
Nikola Vucevic 74 34.2 19.3 3.2 7.7 10.9 2.0 0.7 0.7 2.0 3.0 8.5 16.3 .523 0.0 0.1 .333 2.2 2.9 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 30.2 15.6 2.8 3.2 6.0 1.8 0.6 1.2 2.4 2.4 6.0 12.6 .476 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 3.6 1.000
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1987-882015-16
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 34.2 19.6 1.6 4.8 6.5 1.9 0.6 1.5 2.3 2.3 7.7 15.7 .492 0.0 0.0 .333 4.1 5.0 .826
Nikola Vucevic 65 31.3 18.2 2.7 6.2 8.9 2.8 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.7 8.2 16.1 .510 0.0 0.1 .222 1.7 2.3 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 40.8 23.2 1.9 3.8 5.7 1.6 0.5 2.1 1.9 2.9 9.0 18.5 .488 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 6.2 .838
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1988-892016-17
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 33.9 19.5 1.4 4.0 5.5 1.7 0.6 1.1 2.5 2.3 7.5 15.5 .483 0.0 0.1 .400 4.4 5.4 .825
Nikola Vucevic 75 28.8 14.6 2.3 8.0 10.4 2.8 1.0 1.0 1.6 2.4 6.4 13.7 .468 0.3 1.0 .307 1.4 2.1 .669
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 3 40.7 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.7 4.0 11.3 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 5.0 .800
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1989-902017-18
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 31.5 14.2 1.4 3.6 5.0 1.7 0.4 1.2 1.7 2.1 5.7 11.9 .481 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .779
Nikola Vucevic 57 29.5 16.5 1.8 7.4 9.2 3.4 1.0 1.1 1.9 2.5 7.0 14.7 .475 1.1 3.6 .314 1.4 1.6 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 5 38.0 21.0 1.6 4.8 6.4 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.0 3.8 8.6 17.6 .489 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 4.8 .792
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1990-912018-19
Team Utah JazzOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisMagic 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 %
Thurl Bailey 82 30.3 12.4 1.2 3.7 5.0 1.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 2.0 4.9 10.6 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.3 .808
Nikola Vucevic 80 31.4 20.8 2.8 9.2 12.0 3.8 1.0 1.1 2.0 2.0 8.8 16.9 .518 1.1 2.9 .364 2.2 2.8 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 9 25.3 7.6 1.2 2.3 3.6 1.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 3.0 2.6 7.1 .359 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .880
Nikola Vucevic 5 29.4 11.2 1.8 6.2 8.0 3.0 0.4 1.0 2.6 2.4 4.2 11.6 .362 0.6 2.6 .231 2.2 2.8 .786

Season 9

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1991-922019-20
Team Utah Jazz, Minnesota TimberwolvesOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic 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 %
Thurl Bailey 84 25.0 11.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.3 1.9 4.4 10.0 .440 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 3.2 .796
Nikola Vucevic 62 32.2 19.6 2.3 8.6 10.9 3.6 0.9 0.8 1.4 2.2 8.0 16.7 .477 1.6 4.7 .339 2.1 2.7 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 5 37.0 28.0 1.8 9.2 11.0 4.0 0.8 0.6 2.6 2.6 11.2 22.2 .505 3.6 8.8 .409 2.0 2.2 .909

Season 10

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1992-932020-21
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesOrlando Magic, Chicago 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 %
Thurl Bailey 70 18.2 7.5 0.8 2.3 3.1 0.9 0.3 0.7 0.9 1.3 2.9 6.4 .455 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.0 .838
Nikola Vucevic 70 33.5 23.4 2.1 9.6 11.7 3.8 0.9 0.7 1.8 2.0 9.5 19.9 .477 2.5 6.3 .400 1.9 2.2 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1993-942021-22
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Thurl Bailey 79 16.4 7.4 0.8 1.9 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.9 5.8 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 1.9 .799
Nikola Vucevic 73 33.1 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 1.0 1.0 1.9 2.5 7.5 15.8 .473 1.4 4.5 .314 1.3 1.7 .760
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 5 36.2 19.4 2.8 9.6 12.4 3.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.8 8.0 18.2 .440 2.6 8.4 .310 0.8 1.0 .800

Note: Thurl Bailey didn't play in 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Season 12

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season 1998-992022-23
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Thurl Bailey 43 12.6 4.2 0.8 1.3 2.2 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.6 1.8 1.8 4.1 .446 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.8 .735
Nikola Vucevic 82 33.5 17.6 1.9 9.1 11.0 3.2 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.2 7.3 14.0 .520 1.5 4.2 .349 1.6 1.9 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey 11 10.5 3.4 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.2 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.7 1.5 3.0 .515 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .750
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Thurl Bailey Nikola Vucevic
Season -2023-24
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
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 %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic 76 34.3 18.0 2.8 7.8 10.5 3.3 0.7 0.8 1.6 2.5 7.7 15.9 .484 1.2 4.1 .294 1.4 1.7 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Thurl Bailey ------- --- ----------
Nikola Vucevic ------- --- ----------