Kevin McHale vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Kevin McHale 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

Kevin McHale

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Kevin McHale: 1980-81 to 1992-93
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Kevin McHale 3 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Kevin McHale 13 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Kevin McHale 13 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Kevin McHale 7 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-NBA First Team Kevin McHale 1 Nate Thurmond 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Kevin McHale 1 Nate Thurmond 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Kevin McHale 3 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Kevin McHale 6 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kevin McHale 17.9 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Kevin McHale 7.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Kevin McHale 1.7 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Kevin McHale 0.4 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Kevin McHale 1.7 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Kevin McHale 17,335 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Kevin McHale 7,122 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Kevin McHale 1,670 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Kevin McHale 344 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Kevin McHale 1,690 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Kevin McHale 971 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kevin McHale .554 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Kevin McHale .261 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kevin McHale .798 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kevin McHale 26.1 (1987) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Kevin McHale 9.9 (1987) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Kevin McHale 2.7 (1988) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Kevin McHale 0.5 (1987) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Kevin McHale 2.3 (1983) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Kevin McHale 18.8 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Kevin McHale 7.4 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Kevin McHale 1.6 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Kevin McHale 0.4 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Kevin McHale 1.7 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Kevin McHale 3,182 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Kevin McHale 1,253 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Kevin McHale 274 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Kevin McHale 65 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Kevin McHale 281 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Kevin McHale 169 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Kevin McHale .561 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Kevin McHale .381 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Kevin McHale .788 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Kevin McHale 25.4 (1988) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Kevin McHale 9.9 (1985) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Kevin McHale 3.0 (1989) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Kevin McHale 0.6 (1985) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Kevin McHale 2.4 (1986) 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.