Calvin Murphy vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Calvin Murphy, 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.

Calvin Murphy played 13 years in the NBA, 1 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Calvin Murphy had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, 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
Calvin Murphy 13 6 1970-71 to 1982-83
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1970-711963-64
Team San Diego RocketsSan 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 %
Calvin Murphy 82 24.6 15.8 - - 3.0 4.0 - - - 3.2 5.7 12.5 .458 - - - 4.3 5.3 .820
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1971-721964-65
Team Houston RocketsSan 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 %
Calvin Murphy 82 31.0 18.2 - - 3.1 4.8 - - - 3.6 7.0 15.3 .455 - - - 4.3 4.8 .890
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1972-731965-66
Team Houston RocketsSan 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 %
Calvin Murphy 77 22.0 13.0 - - 1.9 3.4 - - - 2.7 4.9 10.6 .465 - - - 3.1 3.5 .888
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1973-741966-67
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Calvin Murphy 81 36.1 20.4 0.6 1.7 2.3 7.4 1.9 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 15.9 .522 - - - 3.8 4.4 .868
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1974-751967-68
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 78 32.2 18.7 0.7 1.6 2.2 4.9 1.6 0.1 - 3.6 7.1 14.8 .484 - - - 4.4 4.9 .883
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 %
Calvin Murphy 8 38.1 24.4 1.1 1.3 2.4 5.6 1.8 0.1 - 4.5 9.0 19.5 .462 - - - 6.4 7.1 .895
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1975-761968-69
Team Houston RocketsSan 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 %
Calvin Murphy 82 36.5 21.0 0.6 1.9 2.5 7.3 1.8 0.1 - 3.6 8.2 16.7 .493 - - - 4.5 5.0 .907
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771969-70
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost East 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 %
Calvin Murphy 82 33.7 17.9 0.7 1.4 2.1 4.7 1.8 0.1 - 3.4 7.3 14.8 .490 - - - 3.3 3.7 .886
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 %
Calvin Murphy 12 35.0 19.3 0.6 1.0 1.6 6.3 1.6 0.2 - 3.9 8.5 17.8 .479 - - - 2.3 2.5 .933
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781970-71
Team Houston RocketsSan 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 %
Calvin Murphy 76 38.2 25.6 0.8 1.4 2.2 3.4 1.5 0.0 2.3 3.2 11.2 22.9 .491 - - - 3.2 3.5 .918
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791971-72
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Calvin Murphy 82 35.9 20.2 1.0 1.2 2.1 4.3 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.5 8.6 17.4 .496 - - - 3.0 3.2 .928
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 %
Calvin Murphy 2 36.5 13.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.0 0.5 1.0 4.5 4.5 15.5 .290 - - - 4.0 4.5 .889
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801972-73
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Calvin Murphy 76 35.2 20.0 0.9 1.1 2.0 3.9 1.9 0.1 2.1 3.5 8.2 16.7 .493 0.0 0.3 .040 3.6 4.0 .897
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 %
Calvin Murphy 7 37.9 18.7 0.6 0.9 1.4 3.7 1.6 0.0 2.3 4.1 8.3 15.4 .537 0.3 0.6 .500 1.9 1.9 1.000
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811973-74
Team Houston RocketsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 76 26.5 16.7 0.4 0.7 1.1 2.9 1.5 0.1 1.7 2.8 6.9 14.1 .492 0.1 0.2 .235 2.7 2.8 .958
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 %
Calvin Murphy 19 28.4 18.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 3.0 1.4 0.0 2.2 3.6 7.5 15.1 .495 0.1 0.4 .286 3.1 3.2 .967
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821974-75
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
Calvin Murphy 64 18.8 10.2 0.3 0.6 1.0 2.5 0.7 0.0 1.3 2.2 4.3 10.1 .427 0.0 0.3 .063 1.6 1.7 .909
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 %
Calvin Murphy 3 19.0 5.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 2.3 1.7 7.3 .227 0.0 1.0 .000 2.3 2.7 .875
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

Calvin Murphy Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831975-76
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Calvin Murphy 64 22.2 12.8 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.5 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.5 5.3 11.8 .447 0.1 0.2 .286 2.2 2.3 .920
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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

Calvin Murphy 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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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 %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
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 -