Michael Cage vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Michael Cage, 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.

Michael Cage played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Michael Cage had the first of his seasons in 1984-85, 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
Michael Cage 15 7 1984-85 to 1999-00
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851963-64
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan 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 %
Michael Cage 75 21.5 7.1 1.7 3.5 5.2 0.7 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.2 2.9 5.3 .543 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.8 .737
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861964-65
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan 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 %
Michael Cage 78 20.1 6.7 2.2 3.2 5.3 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.4 2.3 2.6 5.5 .479 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.2 .649
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871965-66
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan 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 %
Michael Cage 80 36.5 15.7 4.4 7.1 11.5 1.6 1.2 0.8 2.1 2.8 5.7 11.0 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.8 .730
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881966-67
Team Los Angeles ClippersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
-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 %
Michael Cage 72 36.9 14.5 5.2 7.9 13.0 1.5 1.3 0.8 2.2 2.7 5.0 10.6 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 4.5 6.6 .688
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891967-68
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -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 %
Michael Cage 80 31.7 10.3 3.5 6.1 9.6 1.6 1.2 0.7 1.6 2.3 3.9 7.9 .498 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 3.3 .743
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 %
Michael Cage 8 21.9 7.1 2.8 3.0 5.8 0.6 0.9 0.4 1.0 1.8 3.0 5.0 .600 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 2.8 .409
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901968-69
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan 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 %
Michael Cage 82 31.6 9.7 3.7 6.3 10.0 0.9 1.0 0.5 1.1 2.8 4.0 7.9 .504 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.6 .698
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911969-70
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Michael Cage 82 26.1 6.4 2.2 4.6 6.8 1.1 1.0 0.7 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.4 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .625
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 %
Michael Cage 5 16.0 5.0 1.8 2.4 4.2 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 2.4 1.2 2.8 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.4 .765
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921970-71
Team Seattle SupersonicsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Michael Cage 82 30.0 8.8 3.2 5.6 8.9 1.1 1.2 0.7 1.0 2.9 3.7 6.6 .566 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.1 .620
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 %
Michael Cage 9 21.9 4.3 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.4 0.7 0.9 0.9 2.4 2.1 3.8 .559 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.1 1.000
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931971-72
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Michael Cage 82 26.3 6.1 3.3 4.8 8.0 0.8 0.9 0.6 0.7 2.2 2.7 5.1 .526 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.6 .469
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 %
Michael Cage 19 19.9 4.8 2.5 3.4 5.8 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.8 2.3 2.2 4.2 .525 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.9 .389
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941972-73
Team 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 %
Michael Cage 82 20.8 4.6 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.5 0.9 0.5 0.6 2.2 2.1 3.8 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.9 .486
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 %
Michael Cage 5 18.6 2.8 2.0 3.4 5.4 0.8 0.8 1.0 0.6 3.0 1.2 3.2 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .333
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951973-74
Team Cleveland CavaliersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Michael Cage 82 24.9 5.0 2.5 4.4 6.9 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 1.8 2.2 4.1 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .602
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 %
Michael Cage 4 20.3 4.0 2.0 2.5 4.5 0.8 0.5 1.0 0.3 2.3 2.0 4.5 .444 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.5 .000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961974-75
Team Cleveland CavaliersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Michael Cage 82 32.1 6.0 3.5 5.4 8.9 0.6 1.1 1.0 0.7 2.6 2.7 4.8 .556 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.1 .543
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 %
Michael Cage 3 33.7 6.3 4.3 5.0 9.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 0.0 1.7 2.7 4.7 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .600
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971975-76
Team Philadelphia 76ersChicago 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 %
Michael Cage 82 15.2 1.8 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.2 1.4 0.8 1.7 .468 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.5 .463
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
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

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981976-77
Team New Jersey NetsCleveland 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 %
Michael Cage 79 15.2 1.3 1.5 2.4 3.9 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.3 1.3 0.5 1.1 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .556
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 %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
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 -

Note: Michael Cage didn't play in 1998-99.

Season 15

Michael Cage Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-00-
Team New Jersey Nets-
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 %
Michael Cage 20 12.1 1.4 1.7 2.4 4.1 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.5 0.6 1.2 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cage ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------