Shaquille O'Neal vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston and Shaquille O'Neal 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

Shaquille O'Neal

vs.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Shaquille O'Neal: 1992-93 to 2010-11
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Shaquille O'Neal 4 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Shaquille O'Neal 19 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Shaquille O'Neal 17 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Shaquille O'Neal 15 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

Season MVP Shaquille O'Neal 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

Finals MVP Shaquille O'Neal 3 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-NBA First Team Shaquille O'Neal 8 Mel Thurston 0

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Shaquille O'Neal 14 Mel Thurston 0

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Shaquille O'Neal 3 Mel Thurston 0

Scoring Leader Shaquille O'Neal 2 Mel Thurston 0

Rookie of The Year Shaquille O'Neal 1 Mel Thurston 0 *

* Notes: Season MVP is awarded since 1955-56. Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Rookie of The Year is awarded since 1952-53.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 23.7 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 10.9 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.5 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 0.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.3 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Shaquille O'Neal 28,596 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Shaquille O'Neal 13,099 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Shaquille O'Neal 3,026 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Shaquille O'Neal 739 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Shaquille O'Neal 2,732 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Shaquille O'Neal 1,207 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .582 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .045 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .527 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 29.7 (2000) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 13.9 (1993) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 3.8 (2000) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 0.9 (1994) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 3.5 (1993) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 24.3 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 11.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.7 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 0.5 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 2.1 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Shaquille O'Neal 5,250 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Shaquille O'Neal 2,508 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Shaquille O'Neal 582 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Shaquille O'Neal 117 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Shaquille O'Neal 459 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Shaquille O'Neal 216 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .563 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Shaquille O'Neal - Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Shaquille O'Neal .504 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 30.7 (2000) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 15.4 (2001) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 4.6 (1996) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 1.0 (2008) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Shaquille O'Neal 3.0 (1994) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Notes: ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.