Mike Dunleavy vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Mike Dunleavy, 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 Dunleavy played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Mike Dunleavy had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, 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 Dunleavy 11 7 1976-77 to 1989-90
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 Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771963-64
Team Philadelphia 76ersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Mike Dunleavy 32 11.2 4.8 0.3 0.8 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.1 - 2.0 1.9 4.5 .414 - - - 1.1 1.4 .756
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 Dunleavy 11 6.2 2.0 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.8 0.3 0.0 - 1.3 0.8 2.3 .360 - - - 0.4 0.5 .800
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 Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781964-65
Team Philadelphia 76ers, Houston RocketsSan 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 15 7.9 3.5 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.9 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.8 1.3 3.3 .400 - - - 0.9 1.2 .722
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mike Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791965-66
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 74 20.1 8.0 0.4 1.4 1.7 4.4 0.8 0.1 1.8 2.3 2.9 5.7 .506 - - - 2.1 2.5 .864
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 Dunleavy 1 10.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Mike Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801966-67
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 51 20.3 8.0 0.5 1.5 2.0 4.1 0.8 0.1 2.2 2.4 2.9 6.3 .464 0.1 0.4 .150 2.2 2.6 .828
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 Dunleavy 6 7.5 2.8 0.3 0.5 0.8 2.2 0.8 0.0 1.0 1.8 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.3 .000 0.8 1.0 .833
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 Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811967-68
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 74 21.7 10.5 0.4 1.2 1.6 3.6 0.9 0.0 1.9 2.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.2 .063 2.1 2.5 .839
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 Dunleavy 20 23.6 8.9 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.4 0.8 0.1 1.5 3.0 3.5 7.6 .454 0.3 0.8 .400 1.7 1.9 .868
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Mike Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821968-69
Team Houston RocketsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Rockets Lost West 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 70 18.8 7.4 0.3 1.1 1.5 3.2 0.6 0.0 1.1 2.3 2.9 6.4 .458 0.5 1.2 .384 1.1 1.5 .708
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 Dunleavy 3 22.0 7.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 0.7 0.0 0.3 2.3 3.0 7.3 .409 0.0 1.3 .000 1.7 2.0 .833
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 Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831969-70
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 79 20.5 7.8 0.2 1.5 1.7 5.5 0.9 0.1 2.0 2.7 2.7 6.5 .418 0.8 2.5 .345 1.5 1.9 .779
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 Dunleavy 11 15.8 5.5 0.3 0.9 1.2 4.5 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.0 2.0 5.9 .338 0.7 2.7 .267 0.8 1.2 .692
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Mike Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841970-71
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bucks Lost East 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 %
Mike Dunleavy 17 23.8 11.2 0.4 1.3 1.6 4.6 0.7 0.1 2.1 3.0 4.1 7.5 .551 1.1 2.6 .422 1.9 2.4 .800
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 Dunleavy 15 26.2 11.3 0.7 1.7 2.3 3.1 1.1 0.0 2.3 3.9 3.9 8.6 .457 1.2 3.3 .360 2.2 2.4 .917
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 Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851971-72
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden 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 Dunleavy 19 22.8 8.9 0.3 1.3 1.6 4.5 0.8 0.2 2.1 2.9 3.4 7.1 .474 0.8 2.5 .340 1.3 1.5 .862
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750

Note: Mike Dunleavy didn't play in 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88.

Season 10

Mike Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891972-73
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden 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 Dunleavy 2 2.5 1.5 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 .500 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 -
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 Dunleavy Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901973-74
Team Milwaukee BucksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-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 %
Mike Dunleavy 5 8.6 3.4 0.0 0.4 0.4 2.0 0.2 0.0 1.6 1.4 0.8 2.8 .286 0.4 1.8 .222 1.4 1.6 .875
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Mike Dunleavy 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 %
Mike Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 Dunleavy 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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 Dunleavy 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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 Dunleavy ------- --- ----------
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 -