Bill Russell vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Bill Russell that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Player comparisons: / /

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Bill Russell:
1956-57 to 1968-69
Nate Thurmond:
1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

Bill Russell11
Nate Thurmond0
Bill Russell13
Nate Thurmond14
Bill Russell13
Nate Thurmond9
Bill Russell12
Nate Thurmond7

Honors and Awards

Bill Russell5
Nate Thurmond0
Bill Russell3
Nate Thurmond0
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Bill Russell11
Nate Thurmond0
Bill Russell1 *
Nate Thurmond2
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Bill Russell1
Nate Thurmond5
Bill Russell4
Nate Thurmond0
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Bill Russell 15.1
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Bill Russell 22.5
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Bill Russell 4.3
Nate Thurmond 2.7

Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 0.5

*
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 2.1

*

Totals Stats

Bill Russell 14,522
Nate Thurmond 14,437

Bill Russell 21,620
Nate Thurmond 14,464

Bill Russell 4,100
Nate Thurmond 2,575

Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 125

*
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 553

*
Bill Russell 963
Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Bill Russell .440
Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Bill Russell .561
Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Bill Russell 18.9
(1962)
Nate Thurmond 21.9
(1970)

Bill Russell 24.7
(1964)
Nate Thurmond 22.0
(1968)

Bill Russell 5.8
(1967)
Nate Thurmond 4.2
(1968)

Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 0.7
(1974)

*
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 2.9
(1974)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Bill Russell 16.2
Nate Thurmond 11.9

Bill Russell 24.9
Nate Thurmond 13.6

Bill Russell 4.7
Nate Thurmond 2.8

Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 0.4

*
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 1.9

*

Totals Stats

Bill Russell 2,673
Nate Thurmond 966

Bill Russell 4,104
Nate Thurmond 1,101

Bill Russell 770
Nate Thurmond 225

Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 11

*
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 51

*
Bill Russell 165
Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Bill Russell .430
Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Bill Russell .603
Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Bill Russell 22.4
(1962)
Nate Thurmond 25.4
(1972)

Bill Russell 29.9
(1961)
Nate Thurmond 23.1
(1967)

Bill Russell 6.3
(1965)
Nate Thurmond 5.2
(1972)

Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 0.5
(1976)

*
Bill Russell -
n/a **
Nate Thurmond 2.2
(1976)

*
Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat.
Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.