Eddie Johnson vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Eddie Johnson, 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.

Eddie Johnson played 17 years in the NBA, 3 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Eddie Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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
Eddie Johnson 17 10 1981-82 to 1998-99
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821963-64
Team Kansas City KingsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
Eddie Johnson 74 20.5 9.3 1.7 2.6 4.4 1.5 0.7 0.2 1.3 2.8 4.0 8.7 .459 0.0 0.1 .091 1.3 2.0 .664
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831964-65
Team Kansas City KingsSan 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 35.8 19.8 2.3 3.8 6.1 2.6 0.9 0.2 2.2 3.2 8.3 16.7 .494 0.2 0.9 .282 3.0 3.9 .779
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841965-66
Team Kansas City KingsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 35.6 21.9 2.0 3.5 5.5 3.6 0.9 0.3 2.6 3.2 9.2 18.9 .485 0.2 0.8 .313 3.3 4.0 .810
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 %
Eddie Johnson 3 35.7 17.0 1.3 2.0 3.3 4.0 1.0 0.3 0.7 2.7 7.0 16.0 .438 0.7 1.7 .400 2.3 2.3 1.000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851966-67
Team Kansas City KingsSan 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 36.9 22.9 1.8 3.1 5.0 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 2.9 9.4 19.1 .491 0.2 0.7 .241 4.0 4.5 .871
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861967-68
Team Sacramento KingsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Kings Lost West 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 30.7 18.7 2.1 3.0 5.1 2.6 0.7 0.2 2.3 2.9 7.6 16.0 .475 0.0 0.2 .200 3.4 4.2 .816
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 %
Eddie Johnson 3 32.0 18.7 3.3 3.7 7.0 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 2.3 8.0 18.3 .436 0.0 1.0 .000 2.7 3.0 .889
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871968-69
Team Sacramento KingsSan 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 30.3 18.7 1.8 2.6 4.4 3.1 0.5 0.2 2.0 2.7 7.5 16.2 .463 0.5 1.5 .314 3.3 4.0 .829
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881969-70
Team Phoenix SunsSan 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 %
Eddie Johnson 73 29.8 17.7 1.7 2.7 4.4 2.5 0.5 0.1 1.9 2.6 7.3 15.2 .480 0.3 1.3 .255 2.8 3.3 .850
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891970-71
Team Phoenix SunsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Eddie Johnson 70 29.2 21.5 1.3 3.1 4.4 2.3 0.7 0.1 1.7 2.8 8.7 17.5 .497 1.0 2.5 .413 3.1 3.6 .868
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 %
Eddie Johnson 12 32.7 17.8 2.3 4.9 7.3 2.1 1.0 0.2 1.5 3.4 7.1 17.2 .413 1.1 3.2 .342 2.5 3.3 .769
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901971-72
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Eddie Johnson 64 28.3 16.9 1.1 2.8 3.8 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.7 6.4 14.2 .453 1.1 2.9 .380 2.9 3.2 .917
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 %
Eddie Johnson 16 21.1 12.3 0.9 2.6 3.6 1.1 0.6 0.3 1.3 2.5 4.5 10.0 .450 0.9 2.4 .395 2.3 2.9 .787
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911972-73
Team Phoenix Suns, Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 25.7 16.7 1.3 2.0 3.3 1.4 0.7 0.1 1.5 2.2 6.7 13.9 .484 0.5 1.5 .325 2.8 3.2 .891
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 %
Eddie Johnson 5 34.2 24.0 2.4 1.8 4.2 1.4 1.4 0.2 1.6 2.6 9.2 17.8 .517 0.8 3.0 .267 4.8 5.8 .828
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921973-74
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Eddie Johnson 81 29.2 17.1 1.5 2.1 3.6 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.6 2.5 6.6 14.4 .459 0.3 1.3 .252 3.6 4.2 .861
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 %
Eddie Johnson 9 27.4 18.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.9 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.1 7.2 15.2 .474 0.4 2.4 .182 3.6 3.8 .941
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931974-75
Team Seattle SupersonicsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
Eddie Johnson 82 22.8 14.4 1.5 1.8 3.3 1.6 0.4 0.0 1.6 2.1 5.6 12.1 .467 0.2 0.7 .304 2.9 3.1 .911
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 %
Eddie Johnson 19 20.1 10.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 4.3 11.1 .390 0.6 1.9 .333 1.5 1.6 .935
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

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941975-76
Team Charlotte HornetsChicago 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 %
Eddie Johnson 73 20.0 11.5 1.1 2.0 3.1 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.2 2.0 4.6 10.1 .459 0.8 2.1 .393 1.4 1.7 .780
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 %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Eddie Johnson didn't play in 1994-95.

Season 14

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961976-77
Team Indiana PacersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Eddie Johnson 62 16.2 7.7 0.7 1.7 2.5 1.1 0.3 0.1 0.9 1.7 2.9 7.0 .413 0.7 2.1 .352 1.1 1.3 .886
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 %
Eddie Johnson 1 9.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.0 .000 0.0 2.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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 -

Season 15

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-97-
Team Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Eddie Johnson 52 17.6 8.2 0.5 2.1 2.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.9 1.6 3.1 7.0 .442 0.9 2.5 .374 1.1 1.3 .809
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 16 17.7 8.3 0.9 1.3 2.3 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.4 1.1 3.0 7.3 .410 0.9 2.9 .298 1.4 1.5 .958
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-98-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 75 19.9 8.4 0.7 1.4 2.0 1.2 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.0 7.3 .417 0.9 2.6 .333 1.5 1.8 .831
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 5 17.6 5.6 0.8 0.8 1.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 2.0 1.8 5.4 .333 0.6 2.0 .300 1.4 1.6 .875
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Eddie Johnson Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-99-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson 3 6.0 4.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.0 2.0 4.3 .462 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Eddie Johnson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------