Wali Jones vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Wali Jones, 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.

Wali Jones played 10 years in the NBA, 4 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Wali Jones had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, 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
Wali Jones 10 9 1964-65 to 1975-76
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

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1964-651963-64
Team Baltimore BulletsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bullets Lost West Div FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wali Jones 77 16.2 5.3 - - 1.8 2.6 - - - 2.5 2.0 5.3 .375 - - - 1.3 1.8 .728
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 %
Wali Jones 10 16.2 7.3 - - 2.0 1.8 - - - 2.8 2.9 6.3 .460 - - - 1.5 2.0 .750
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

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1965-661964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wali Jones 80 27.5 9.0 - - 2.1 3.4 - - - 3.1 3.7 10.0 .370 - - - 1.6 2.2 .744
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 %
Wali Jones 5 31.2 13.0 - - 3.0 3.6 - - - 3.6 5.0 15.4 .325 - - - 3.0 4.4 .682
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1966-671965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wali Jones 81 27.8 13.2 - - 3.3 3.7 - - - 3.0 5.2 12.1 .431 - - - 2.8 3.3 .838
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 %
Wali Jones 15 31.7 17.5 - - 2.8 4.1 - - - 3.9 7.3 16.3 .447 - - - 3.0 3.9 .776
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1967-681966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wali Jones 77 26.7 12.8 - - 2.8 3.2 - - - 2.9 5.4 13.5 .397 - - - 2.1 2.6 .787
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 %
Wali Jones 13 29.8 14.1 - - 2.4 3.0 - - - 3.7 5.3 14.8 .358 - - - 3.5 4.4 .789
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

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1968-691967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Wali Jones 81 28.9 13.2 - - 3.1 3.6 - - - 3.5 5.3 12.4 .430 - - - 2.6 3.2 .809
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 %
Wali Jones 5 20.6 6.4 - - 3.2 1.8 - - - 3.4 2.4 9.0 .267 - - - 1.6 2.0 .800
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1969-701968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisWarriors 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 %
Wali Jones 78 22.3 11.8 - - 2.2 3.5 - - - 2.7 4.7 10.9 .430 - - - 2.4 2.9 .841
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 %
Wali Jones 5 32.0 15.8 - - 2.2 4.8 - - - 3.2 6.8 13.0 .523 - - - 2.2 2.8 .786
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

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1970-711969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East 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 %
Wali Jones 41 23.5 10.1 - - 1.6 3.1 - - - 2.7 4.1 10.2 .402 - - - 1.9 2.5 .782
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 %
Wali Jones 7 16.4 6.9 - - 1.7 1.6 - - - 3.1 2.7 7.4 .365 - - - 1.4 1.9 .769
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1971-721970-71
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf 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 %
Wali Jones 48 21.5 7.5 - - 1.6 2.9 - - - 2.3 3.0 7.4 .407 - - - 1.5 1.9 .822
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 %
Wali Jones 9 22.2 10.0 - - 2.0 2.2 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.1 .439 - - - 2.0 2.3 .857
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

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1972-731971-72
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden 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 %
Wali Jones 27 15.5 5.0 - - 1.1 2.1 - - - 1.4 2.2 5.4 .407 - - - 0.6 0.7 .889
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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Note: Wali Jones didn't play in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

Season 10

Wali Jones Nate Thurmond
Season 1975-761972-73
Team Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Wali Jones 17 10.4 3.2 0.0 0.5 0.5 1.9 0.4 0.0 - 1.6 1.4 2.9 .469 - - - 0.5 0.8 .692
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 %
Wali Jones 1 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Wali Jones 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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Wali Jones 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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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

Wali Jones 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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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

Wali Jones 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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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 %
Wali Jones ------- --- ----------
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 -