John Salmons vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and John Salmons 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

John Salmons

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
John Salmons: 2002-03 to 2014-15
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships John Salmons 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons John Salmons 13 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played John Salmons 5 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games John Salmons 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team John Salmons 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) John Salmons 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game John Salmons 9.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game John Salmons 2.9 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game John Salmons 2.4 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game John Salmons 0.8 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game John Salmons 0.3 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points John Salmons 8,292 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds John Salmons 2,603 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists John Salmons 2,183 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals John Salmons 756 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks John Salmons 239 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games John Salmons 895 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage John Salmons .431 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage John Salmons .366 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage John Salmons .799 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game John Salmons 18.3 (2009) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game John Salmons 4.3 (2008) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game John Salmons 3.5 (2011) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game John Salmons 1.2 (2010) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game John Salmons 0.4 (2011) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game John Salmons 9.3 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game John Salmons 2.4 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game John Salmons 1.8 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game John Salmons 0.8 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game John Salmons 0.4 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points John Salmons 259 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds John Salmons 66 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists John Salmons 50 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals John Salmons 21 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks John Salmons 11 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games John Salmons 28 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage John Salmons .393 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage John Salmons .243 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage John Salmons .877 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game John Salmons 18.1 (2009) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game John Salmons 4.4 (2009) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game John Salmons 4.0 (2010) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game John Salmons 1.4 (2010) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game John Salmons 1.0 (2009) 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.