Kenny Smith vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Kenny Smith 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

Kenny Smith

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Kenny Smith: 1987-88 to 1996-97
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Kenny Smith 2 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Kenny Smith 10 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Kenny Smith 5 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Kenny Smith 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Kenny Smith 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Kenny Smith 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kenny Smith 12.8 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Kenny Smith 2.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Kenny Smith 5.5 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Kenny Smith 1.0 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Kenny Smith 0.1 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Kenny Smith 9,397 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Kenny Smith 1,454 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Kenny Smith 4,073 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Kenny Smith 759 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Kenny Smith 65 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Kenny Smith 737 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kenny Smith .480 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Kenny Smith .399 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kenny Smith .829 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kenny Smith 17.7 (1991) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Kenny Smith 2.8 (1989) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Kenny Smith 7.7 (1989) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Kenny Smith 1.5 (1988) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Kenny Smith 0.1 (1991) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kenny Smith 11.5 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Kenny Smith 2.2 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Kenny Smith 4.5 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Kenny Smith 0.8 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Kenny Smith 0.1 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Kenny Smith 780 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Kenny Smith 147 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Kenny Smith 305 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Kenny Smith 54 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Kenny Smith 9 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Kenny Smith 68 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kenny Smith .457 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Kenny Smith .448 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kenny Smith .847 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kenny Smith 15.3 (1991) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Kenny Smith 2.7 (1991) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Kenny Smith 8.0 (1991) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Kenny Smith 1.3 (1991) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Kenny Smith 0.3 (1991) 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.