Elfrid Payton vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

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

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

Elfrid Payton

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Elfrid Payton: 2014-15 to 2021-22
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Elfrid Payton 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Elfrid Payton 8 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Elfrid Payton 2 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Elfrid Payton 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Elfrid Payton 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Elfrid Payton 0 Nate Thurmond 5

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elfrid Payton 10.1 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Elfrid Payton 4.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Elfrid Payton 5.7 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Elfrid Payton 1.2 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.3 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Elfrid Payton 5,036 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Elfrid Payton 2,007 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Elfrid Payton 2,867 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Elfrid Payton 588 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Elfrid Payton 151 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Elfrid Payton 500 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elfrid Payton .447 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Elfrid Payton .287 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Elfrid Payton .623 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elfrid Payton 12.8 (2017) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Elfrid Payton 5.2 (2019) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Elfrid Payton 7.6 (2019) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Elfrid Payton 1.7 (2015) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.5 (2017) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Elfrid Payton 1.3 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.0 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Elfrid Payton 1.0 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.3 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.0 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Elfrid Payton 5 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Elfrid Payton 0 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Elfrid Payton 4 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Elfrid Payton 1 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Elfrid Payton 0 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Elfrid Payton 4 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Elfrid Payton .250 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Elfrid Payton - Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Elfrid Payton .500 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Elfrid Payton 2.0 (2022) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.0 (2022) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Elfrid Payton 1.5 (2022) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.5 (2021) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Elfrid Payton 0.0 (2022) 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. ** Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat.