Yao Ming vs. Nate Thurmond Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Nate Thurmond and Yao Ming 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

Yao Ming

vs.

Nate Thurmond

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Yao Ming: 2002-03 to 2010-11
Nate Thurmond: 1963-64 to 1976-77

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Yao Ming 0 Nate Thurmond 0

NBA Seasons Yao Ming 8 Nate Thurmond 14

Playoffs Played Yao Ming 4 Nate Thurmond 9

All-Star Games Yao Ming 8 Nate Thurmond 7

Honors and Awards

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Yao Ming 5 Nate Thurmond 0

All-Defensive 1st Team Yao Ming 0 Nate Thurmond 2 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Yao Ming 0 Nate Thurmond 5

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

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Yao Ming 19.0 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 9.2 Nate Thurmond 15.0

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.6 Nate Thurmond 2.7

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.4 Nate Thurmond 0.5 *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 1.9 Nate Thurmond 2.1 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Yao Ming 9,247 Nate Thurmond 14,437

Total Rebounds Yao Ming 4,494 Nate Thurmond 14,464

Total Assists Yao Ming 769 Nate Thurmond 2,575

Total Steals Yao Ming 189 Nate Thurmond 125 *

Total Blocks Yao Ming 920 Nate Thurmond 553 *

Total Games Yao Ming 486 Nate Thurmond 964

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Yao Ming .524 Nate Thurmond .421

3-Point Percentage Yao Ming .200 Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Yao Ming .833 Nate Thurmond .667

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Yao Ming 25.0 (2007) Nate Thurmond 21.9 (1970)

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 10.8 (2008) Nate Thurmond 22.0 (1968)

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 2.3 (2008) Nate Thurmond 4.2 (1968)

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.5 (2006) Nate Thurmond 0.7 (1974) *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 2.0 (2008) Nate Thurmond 2.9 (1974) *

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Yao Ming 19.8 Nate Thurmond 11.9

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 9.3 Nate Thurmond 13.6

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.0 Nate Thurmond 2.8

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.3 Nate Thurmond 0.4 *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 1.5 Nate Thurmond 1.9 *

Totals Stats

Total Points Yao Ming 555 Nate Thurmond 966

Total Rebounds Yao Ming 261 Nate Thurmond 1,101

Total Assists Yao Ming 29 Nate Thurmond 225

Total Steals Yao Ming 9 Nate Thurmond 11 *

Total Blocks Yao Ming 42 Nate Thurmond 51 *

Total Games Yao Ming 28 Nate Thurmond 81

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Yao Ming .519 Nate Thurmond .416

3-Point Percentage Yao Ming - Nate Thurmond - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Yao Ming .833 Nate Thurmond .621

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Yao Ming 25.1 (2007) Nate Thurmond 25.4 (1972)

Rebounds Per Game Yao Ming 10.9 (2009) Nate Thurmond 23.1 (1967)

Assists Per Game Yao Ming 1.8 (2004) Nate Thurmond 5.2 (1972)

Steals Per Game Yao Ming 0.4 (2009) Nate Thurmond 0.5 (1976) *

Blocks Per Game Yao Ming 2.7 (2005) 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.