Armen Gilliam vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Armen Gilliam, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Armen Gilliam played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Armen Gilliam had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, while Nate Thurmond had his rookie season in 1963-64. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Armen Gilliam 13 5 1987-88 to 1999-00
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881963-64
Team Phoenix SunsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 55 32.9 14.8 2.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.1 .475 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.5 .679
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679

Season 2

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891964-65
Team Phoenix SunsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 74 28.6 15.9 2.2 5.1 7.3 0.7 0.7 0.4 1.9 2.4 6.3 12.6 .503 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .743
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 9 14.0 8.1 2.0 3.0 5.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.1 1.2 3.0 5.7 .529 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .864
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901965-66
Team Phoenix Suns, Charlotte HornetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 76 31.9 16.7 2.8 5.1 7.9 1.3 0.9 0.7 2.4 2.8 6.4 12.4 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 4.0 5.5 .723
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911966-67
Team Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 75 35.3 16.6 2.9 5.0 8.0 1.4 0.9 0.7 2.3 2.5 6.5 13.3 .487 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.4 .815
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 8 35.9 16.9 1.8 4.8 6.5 1.3 0.6 0.8 1.9 2.0 6.0 13.0 .462 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 5.8 .848
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571

Season 5

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 81 34.2 16.9 2.9 5.3 8.1 1.5 0.6 1.0 2.0 2.2 6.3 12.4 .511 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.2 .807
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 80 21.8 12.4 1.7 4.2 5.9 1.5 0.5 0.7 2.0 1.5 4.5 9.7 .464 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 4.1 .843
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588

Season 7

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941969-70
Team New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 82 24.0 11.8 2.4 3.7 6.1 0.8 0.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.2 8.3 .510 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.4 .759
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 4 28.0 10.5 0.3 6.0 6.3 0.3 0.5 1.8 0.8 1.8 3.8 8.5 .441 0.0 0.3 .000 3.0 4.0 .750
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951970-71
Team New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 82 30.1 14.8 2.3 5.1 7.5 1.2 0.8 1.1 1.9 2.1 5.5 11.0 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 4.8 .770
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800

Season 9

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961971-72
Team New Jersey NetsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 78 36.6 18.3 3.1 6.1 9.1 1.8 0.9 0.7 2.3 2.3 7.4 15.6 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 3.6 4.5 .791
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 10

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971972-73
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 80 25.6 8.6 1.7 4.5 6.2 0.7 0.8 0.5 1.3 2.6 3.1 6.5 .471 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.2 .768
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800

Season 11

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981973-74
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 82 25.8 11.2 1.8 3.6 5.4 1.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.2 4.0 8.2 .484 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.1 .802
Nate Thurmond 62 39.7 13.0 4.0 10.1 14.2 2.7 0.7 2.9 - 2.9 5.0 11.2 .444 - - - 3.1 4.6 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991974-75
Team Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdBulls Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 34 19.6 8.3 1.0 2.7 3.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 1.1 1.4 3.0 6.6 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.0 .782
Nate Thurmond 80 34.5 7.9 3.2 8.1 11.3 4.1 0.6 2.4 - 3.4 3.1 8.6 .364 - - - 1.7 2.8 .589
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 3 11.7 5.7 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.3 1.3 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 1.7 1.000
Nate Thurmond 13 19.5 3.5 1.8 4.8 6.7 2.4 0.4 1.6 - 2.8 1.1 2.9 .368 - - - 1.4 2.8 .486

Season 13

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001975-76
Team Utah JazzChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 50 15.6 6.7 1.4 2.7 4.2 0.8 0.2 0.3 1.1 1.7 2.7 6.1 .436 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 1.7 .779
Nate Thurmond 78 17.9 4.4 1.5 3.8 5.3 1.2 0.3 1.3 - 2.1 1.8 4.3 .421 - - - 0.8 1.6 .504
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam 10 13.2 3.5 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.4 0.4 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 4.6 .326 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .385
Nate Thurmond 13 28.8 6.7 2.9 6.1 9.0 2.2 0.5 2.2 - 4.0 2.8 6.1 .468 - - - 1.0 2.5 .406

Season 14

Armen Gilliam Nate Thurmond
Season -1976-77
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 49 20.3 5.5 2.5 5.2 7.6 1.7 0.3 1.7 - 2.6 2.0 5.0 .407 - - - 1.4 2.2 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Armen Gilliam ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -