Maurice Cheeks vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Maurice Cheeks, 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.

Maurice Cheeks played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Maurice Cheeks had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, 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
Maurice Cheeks 15 13 1978-79 to 1992-93
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

Rookie Season

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 82 29.4 8.4 0.8 2.3 3.1 5.3 2.1 0.1 2.4 2.4 3.6 7.0 .510 - - - 1.2 1.7 .721
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 9 36.7 18.8 1.4 2.4 3.9 7.0 4.1 0.4 3.2 3.2 7.3 13.4 .545 - - - 4.1 6.2 .661
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 33.2 11.4 0.9 2.5 3.5 7.0 2.3 0.4 2.7 2.5 4.5 8.4 .540 0.1 0.1 .444 2.3 2.9 .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 %
Maurice Cheeks 18 37.5 11.6 1.2 2.9 4.1 6.2 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.4 4.9 9.7 .511 0.1 0.3 .200 1.6 2.3 .707
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811965-66
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 81 29.8 9.4 0.8 2.2 3.0 6.9 2.4 0.5 2.1 2.9 3.8 7.2 .534 0.0 0.1 .375 1.7 2.2 .787
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 16 32.1 10.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 2.5 0.8 2.3 3.4 4.3 7.8 .544 0.0 0.2 .000 2.0 2.6 .762
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821966-67
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.6 11.2 0.6 2.5 3.1 8.4 2.6 0.4 2.3 3.1 4.5 8.6 .521 0.1 0.3 .273 2.2 2.8 .777
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 21 36.4 14.3 0.7 2.2 3.0 8.2 2.3 0.3 2.3 2.8 6.0 12.6 .472 0.0 0.4 .111 2.4 3.1 .769
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831967-68
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 79 31.2 12.5 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.9 2.3 0.4 2.3 2.3 5.1 9.4 .542 0.0 0.1 .167 2.3 3.0 .754
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 16.3 0.8 2.2 3.0 7.0 2.0 0.2 2.6 1.8 6.4 12.7 .503 0.1 0.2 .500 3.5 4.9 .703
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841968-69
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 75 33.3 12.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 6.4 2.3 0.3 2.4 2.6 5.1 9.4 .550 0.1 0.3 .400 2.3 3.1 .733
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 5 34.2 16.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.8 2.6 0.0 2.0 3.6 7.0 13.4 .522 0.0 0.2 .000 2.6 3.0 .867
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851969-70
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 78 33.5 13.1 0.7 2.1 2.8 6.4 2.2 0.3 2.0 2.4 5.4 9.5 .570 0.1 0.3 .231 2.2 2.6 .879
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 13 37.2 15.2 0.9 2.6 3.5 5.2 2.4 0.4 2.6 2.2 6.2 11.8 .529 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.2 .857
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861970-71
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 82 39.9 15.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 9.2 2.5 0.3 2.9 2.0 6.0 11.1 .537 0.0 0.2 .235 3.4 4.1 .842
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 12 43.3 20.8 1.1 3.6 4.7 7.1 1.1 0.3 2.7 1.5 7.8 15.2 .516 0.0 0.6 .000 5.2 6.1 .849
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871971-72
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 68 38.6 15.6 0.7 2.5 3.2 7.9 2.6 0.2 2.5 1.6 6.1 11.6 .527 0.1 0.3 .235 3.3 4.3 .777
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 5 42.0 17.6 0.2 2.4 2.6 8.8 1.8 0.8 2.4 2.8 7.0 13.2 .530 0.0 0.2 .000 3.6 4.2 .857
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 79 36.3 13.7 0.7 2.5 3.2 8.0 2.1 0.3 2.0 1.5 5.4 10.9 .495 0.0 0.3 .136 2.9 3.5 .825
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 %
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891973-74
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs 76ers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 71 32.4 11.6 0.5 2.0 2.6 7.8 1.5 0.2 1.6 1.6 4.7 9.8 .483 0.0 0.2 .077 2.1 2.7 .774
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 3 42.7 17.7 1.0 2.7 3.7 13.0 2.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 7.0 13.7 .512 0.0 0.3 .000 3.7 4.3 .846
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901974-75
Team San Antonio Spurs, New York KnicksChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 81 31.1 9.7 0.6 2.3 3.0 5.6 1.5 0.1 1.5 1.0 3.8 7.5 .504 0.0 0.2 .250 2.1 2.5 .847
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 10 38.8 12.8 1.2 2.7 3.9 8.5 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.1 5.0 10.4 .481 0.0 0.4 .000 2.8 3.1 .903
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911975-76
Team New York KnicksChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 76 28.3 7.8 0.3 2.0 2.3 5.7 1.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.2 6.4 .499 0.1 0.3 .250 1.4 1.7 .814
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 %
Maurice Cheeks 3 33.7 10.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 5.3 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.0 4.7 7.7 .609 0.3 1.0 .333 0.3 0.7 .500
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921976-77
Team Atlanta HawksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 56 19.4 4.6 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.3 1.5 0.0 0.6 1.3 2.1 4.4 .462 0.1 0.1 .500 0.5 0.8 .605
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 %
Maurice Cheeks ------- --- ----------
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

Maurice Cheeks Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-93-
Team New Jersey Nets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets 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 %
Maurice Cheeks 35 14.6 3.6 0.1 1.1 1.2 3.1 0.9 0.1 0.9 1.0 1.5 2.7 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 0.8 .889
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Maurice Cheeks 5 16.4 4.4 0.6 0.6 1.2 2.8 1.2 0.2 1.4 0.6 2.2 4.6 .478 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------