Melvin Sanders vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Melvin Sanders 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

Melvin Sanders

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Melvin Sanders: 2005-06 to 2005-06
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Melvin Sanders 1 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Melvin Sanders 2.6 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Sanders 1.4 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Melvin Sanders 0.2 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Melvin Sanders 0.3 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Sanders 0.0 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Melvin Sanders 41 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Melvin Sanders 23 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Melvin Sanders 3 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Melvin Sanders 5 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Melvin Sanders 16 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Melvin Sanders .485 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Melvin Sanders .667 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Melvin Sanders .700 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Melvin Sanders 2.6 (2006) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Sanders 1.4 (2006) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Melvin Sanders 0.2 (2006) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Melvin Sanders 0.3 (2006) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Sanders 0.0 (2006) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Melvin Sanders 0 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Melvin Sanders - Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Melvin Sanders - 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.