Purvis Short vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Purvis Short 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

Purvis Short

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Purvis Short: 1978-79 to 1989-90
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Purvis Short 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Purvis Short 12 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Purvis Short 3 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Purvis Short 0 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Purvis Short 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Purvis Short 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Purvis Short 17.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Purvis Short 4.3 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Purvis Short 2.5 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Purvis Short 1.0 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Purvis Short 0.2 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Purvis Short 14,607 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Purvis Short 3,625 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Purvis Short 2,123 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Purvis Short 878 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Purvis Short 178 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Purvis Short 842 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Purvis Short .474 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Purvis Short .282 * Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Purvis Short .824 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Purvis Short 28.0 (1985) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Purvis Short 5.5 (1984) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Purvis Short 3.7 (1986) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Purvis Short 1.5 (1985) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Purvis Short 0.3 (1985) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Purvis Short 10.4 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Purvis Short 2.8 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Purvis Short 1.6 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Purvis Short 0.7 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Purvis Short 0.1 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Purvis Short 187 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Purvis Short 51 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Purvis Short 29 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Purvis Short 13 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Purvis Short 2 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Purvis Short 18 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Purvis Short .424 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Purvis Short .000 * Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Purvis Short .878 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Purvis Short 14.6 (1987) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Purvis Short 3.3 (1987) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Purvis Short 2.7 (1987) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Purvis Short 1.2 (1987) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Purvis Short 0.2 (1987) 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. 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.