Mike Brown vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Mike Brown, 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.

Mike Brown played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Mike Brown had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, 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
Mike Brown 12 9 1986-87 to 1997-98
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871963-64
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Brown 62 13.2 4.2 1.1 2.3 3.5 0.4 0.3 0.1 1.0 2.1 1.7 3.2 .527 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.2 .639
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 %
Mike Brown 1 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881964-65
Team Chicago BullsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Mike Brown 46 12.8 4.3 1.4 2.0 3.5 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.8 1.8 1.7 3.8 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.5 .577
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 %
Mike Brown 1 4.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 .500
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891965-66
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Mike Brown 66 15.9 4.5 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.6 0.4 0.3 1.2 2.0 1.6 3.8 .419 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.0 .708
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 %
Mike Brown 2 5.5 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901966-67
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mike Brown 82 17.0 6.2 1.4 3.2 4.5 0.6 0.4 0.3 1.1 2.3 2.2 4.2 .515 0.0 0.0 .500 1.9 2.4 .789
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 %
Mike Brown 5 13.4 3.6 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.6 0.2 0.2 1.0 2.2 1.4 3.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.0 .800
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-911967-68
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Mike Brown 82 17.0 4.8 1.3 2.8 4.1 0.6 0.4 0.3 1.0 2.0 1.6 3.5 .454 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.2 .742
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 %
Mike Brown 9 24.8 9.6 2.2 5.1 7.3 0.6 0.3 0.1 1.3 4.0 3.0 6.2 .482 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.2 .842
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-921968-69
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors 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 %
Mike Brown 82 21.7 7.7 2.3 3.5 5.8 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.4 2.7 6.0 .453 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.5 .667
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 %
Mike Brown 16 17.1 5.8 1.4 2.7 4.1 0.7 0.1 0.1 1.0 2.7 1.9 4.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.6 .780
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-931969-70
Team Utah JazzSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Mike Brown 82 18.9 5.7 1.8 3.0 4.8 0.8 0.4 0.3 1.2 2.3 2.1 5.0 .430 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.0 .689
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 %
Mike Brown 5 18.6 6.6 0.8 2.4 3.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 1.0 1.8 2.6 5.0 .520 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.2 .636
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-941970-71
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan 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 %
Mike Brown 82 23.4 3.6 1.5 4.0 5.5 0.9 0.6 0.4 0.9 2.7 1.4 3.2 .427 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.4 .653
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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-951971-72
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Mike Brown 27 7.9 1.3 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.6 1.3 0.4 1.5 .250 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.0 .556
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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-961972-73
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement 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 %
Mike Brown 9 18.0 2.9 1.6 2.6 4.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.7 1.0 1.8 .563 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.9 .471
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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-971973-74
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Mike Brown 6 13.8 2.7 1.5 2.7 4.2 0.8 0.2 0.2 0.3 1.5 0.8 2.0 .417 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .600
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 %
Mike Brown 4 6.5 2.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.5 0.5 1.3 .400 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.0 .875
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Mike Brown Nate Thurmond
Season 1997-981974-75
Team Phoenix SunsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Mike Brown 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Mike Brown 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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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

Mike Brown 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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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 %
Mike Brown ------- --- ----------
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 -