Ralph Sampson vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Ralph Sampson that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Player Comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

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

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Ralph Sampson:
1983-84 to 1991-92
Nate Thurmond:
1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

Ralph Sampson0
Nate Thurmond0
Ralph Sampson9
Nate Thurmond14
Ralph Sampson4
Nate Thurmond9
Ralph Sampson4
Nate Thurmond7

Honors and Awards

All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Ralph Sampson1
Nate Thurmond0
Ralph Sampson0
Nate Thurmond2
*
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Ralph Sampson0
Nate Thurmond5
Ralph Sampson1
Nate Thurmond0
* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Ralph Sampson 15.4
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Ralph Sampson 8.8
Nate Thurmond 15.0

Ralph Sampson 2.3
Nate Thurmond 2.7

Ralph Sampson 0.9
Nate Thurmond 0.5

*
Ralph Sampson 1.6
Nate Thurmond 2.1

*

Totals Stats

Ralph Sampson 7,039
Nate Thurmond 14,437

Ralph Sampson 4,011
Nate Thurmond 14,464

Ralph Sampson 1,038
Nate Thurmond 2,575

Ralph Sampson 390
Nate Thurmond 125

*
Ralph Sampson 752
Nate Thurmond 553

*
Ralph Sampson 456
Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Ralph Sampson .486
Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage
Ralph Sampson .172
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Ralph Sampson .661
Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Ralph Sampson 22.1
(1985)
Nate Thurmond 21.9
(1970)

Ralph Sampson 11.1
(1984)
Nate Thurmond 22.0
(1968)

Ralph Sampson 3.6
(1986)
Nate Thurmond 4.2
(1968)

Ralph Sampson 1.3
(1986)
Nate Thurmond 0.7
(1974)

*
Ralph Sampson 2.4
(1984)
Nate Thurmond 2.9
(1974)

*

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Ralph Sampson 18.7
Nate Thurmond 11.9

Ralph Sampson 10.5
Nate Thurmond 13.6

Ralph Sampson 2.9
Nate Thurmond 2.8

Ralph Sampson 0.9
Nate Thurmond 0.4

*
Ralph Sampson 1.5
Nate Thurmond 1.9

*

Totals Stats

Ralph Sampson 711
Nate Thurmond 966

Ralph Sampson 400
Nate Thurmond 1,101

Ralph Sampson 109
Nate Thurmond 225

Ralph Sampson 35
Nate Thurmond 11

*
Ralph Sampson 57
Nate Thurmond 51

*
Ralph Sampson 38
Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Ralph Sampson .497
Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage
Ralph Sampson .375
Nate Thurmond -

n/a **
Free Throw Percentage
Ralph Sampson .703
Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Ralph Sampson 21.2
(1985)
Nate Thurmond 25.4
(1972)

Ralph Sampson 16.6
(1985)
Nate Thurmond 23.1
(1967)

Ralph Sampson 4.0
(1986)
Nate Thurmond 5.2
(1972)

Ralph Sampson 1.5
(1986)
Nate Thurmond 0.5
(1976)

*
Ralph Sampson 1.8
(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.