Micheal Ray Richardson vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Micheal Ray Richardson, 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.

Micheal Ray Richardson played 8 years in the NBA, 6 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Micheal Ray Richardson 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
Micheal Ray Richardson 8 4 1978-79 to 1985-86
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791963-64
Team New York KnicksSan 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 72 16.9 6.5 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.0 1.4 0.3 2.0 2.6 2.8 6.7 .414 - - - 1.0 1.8 .539
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801964-65
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 82 37.3 15.3 1.8 4.7 6.6 10.1 3.2 0.4 4.4 3.2 6.1 13.0 .472 0.3 1.3 .245 2.7 4.1 .660
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811965-66
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 79 40.2 16.4 2.2 4.7 6.9 7.9 2.9 0.4 3.8 3.3 6.6 14.1 .469 0.3 1.3 .225 2.8 4.3 .663
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 2 43.0 11.5 3.0 6.5 9.5 5.5 3.5 0.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 16.5 .242 0.0 2.0 .000 3.5 6.0 .583
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821966-67
Team New York KnicksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 82 37.1 17.9 2.2 4.7 6.9 7.0 2.6 0.5 3.5 3.9 7.5 16.4 .461 0.2 1.2 .188 2.6 3.7 .700
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831967-68
Team Golden State Warriors, New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
-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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 64 32.4 12.6 1.8 2.8 4.6 6.8 2.8 0.4 3.8 3.8 5.4 12.7 .425 0.1 0.8 .157 1.7 2.5 .650
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 2 29.0 9.5 1.0 3.0 4.0 2.5 2.5 0.0 2.0 1.5 4.0 10.5 .381 0.0 0.5 .000 1.5 2.5 .600
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841968-69
Team New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 48 26.8 12.0 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.5 2.1 0.4 2.5 3.3 5.1 11.0 .460 0.3 1.2 .241 1.6 2.3 .704
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 11 40.3 16.8 1.8 3.1 4.9 7.2 3.1 0.4 2.7 3.6 6.3 15.4 .408 0.5 2.0 .273 3.7 5.1 .732
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851969-70
Team New Jersey NetsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 82 38.1 20.1 1.9 3.7 5.6 8.2 3.0 0.3 3.0 3.4 8.4 17.9 .469 0.4 1.4 .252 2.9 3.8 .767
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 3 41.7 18.3 1.3 4.7 6.0 11.3 1.3 0.0 2.7 4.0 7.7 19.0 .404 0.0 0.7 .000 3.0 4.7 .643
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861970-71
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson 47 34.1 15.7 1.6 3.7 5.3 7.2 2.7 0.2 3.2 3.5 6.3 14.1 .448 0.1 0.6 .148 3.0 3.8 .788
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season -1971-72
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs -Warriors 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season -1972-73
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Warriors 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season -1973-74
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season -1974-75
Team -Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson Nate Thurmond
Season -1975-76
Team -Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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

Micheal Ray Richardson 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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 %
Micheal Ray Richardson ------- --- ----------
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 -