Nate Thurmond vs. Dion Waiters Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dion Waiters and Nate Thurmond, 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.

Nate Thurmond played 14 years in the NBA, 6 more than Dion Waiters, who played 8. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while Dion Waiters had his rookie season in 2012-13. 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
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77
Dion Waiters 8 2 2012-13 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1963-642012-13
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Nate Thurmond 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Dion Waiters 61 28.8 14.7 0.4 2.1 2.4 3.0 1.0 0.3 2.0 1.9 5.5 13.4 .412 1.0 3.3 .310 2.6 3.5 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 12 34.2 10.0 - - 12.3 0.8 - - - 3.8 3.5 8.0 .438 - - - 3.0 4.4 .679
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1964-652013-14
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Nate Thurmond 77 41.2 16.5 - - 18.1 2.0 - - - 3.0 6.7 16.1 .419 - - - 3.1 4.6 .658
Dion Waiters 70 29.6 15.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.0 0.9 0.2 2.2 2.2 6.1 14.2 .433 1.3 3.6 .368 2.3 3.4 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1965-662014-15
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder
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 %
Nate Thurmond 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Dion Waiters 80 27.6 11.8 0.5 1.9 2.4 2.0 1.1 0.3 1.4 1.9 4.7 11.8 .396 0.9 3.1 .297 1.5 2.2 .680
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1966-672015-16
Team San Francisco WarriorsOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsThunder 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 %
Nate Thurmond 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Dion Waiters 78 27.6 9.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 2.0 1.0 0.2 1.5 1.8 3.6 9.1 .399 1.1 3.1 .358 1.4 2.0 .713
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 15 46.0 15.9 - - 23.1 3.1 - - - 3.5 6.2 14.3 .433 - - - 3.5 6.1 .571
Dion Waiters 18 27.3 8.4 0.3 2.3 2.6 2.3 0.6 0.2 1.1 2.3 3.1 7.3 .417 1.2 3.1 .375 1.1 1.7 .667

Season 5

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1967-682016-17
Team San Francisco WarriorsMiami Heat
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 %
Nate Thurmond 51 43.6 20.5 - - 22.0 4.2 - - - 2.7 7.5 18.2 .411 - - - 5.5 8.6 .644
Dion Waiters 46 30.1 15.8 0.4 2.9 3.3 4.3 0.9 0.4 2.2 2.1 6.1 14.4 .424 1.8 4.7 .395 1.8 2.8 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1968-692017-18
Team San Francisco WarriorsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Dion Waiters 30 30.6 14.3 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.8 0.8 0.3 2.3 2.0 5.4 13.7 .398 1.7 5.7 .306 1.7 2.3 .739
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 6 43.8 16.7 - - 19.5 4.7 - - - 3.0 6.7 17.0 .392 - - - 3.3 5.7 .588
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1969-702018-19
Team San Francisco WarriorsMiami Heat
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 %
Nate Thurmond 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Dion Waiters 44 25.9 12.0 0.2 2.5 2.6 2.8 0.7 0.2 1.5 1.6 4.5 10.9 .414 2.5 6.6 .377 0.5 1.0 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
Season 1970-712019-20
Team San Francisco WarriorsMiami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Dion Waiters 10 20.7 11.1 0.2 2.2 2.4 2.0 0.4 0.6 1.6 2.1 4.1 9.9 .414 1.5 4.7 .319 1.4 1.7 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 5 38.4 17.6 - - 10.2 3.0 - - - 4.0 7.2 19.4 .371 - - - 3.2 4.0 .800
Dion Waiters 5 7.6 2.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.8 2.4 .333 0.0 0.8 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 9

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
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 %
Nate Thurmond 78 43.1 21.4 - - 16.1 2.9 - - - 2.7 8.1 18.6 .432 - - - 5.3 7.2 .743
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 5 46.0 25.4 - - 17.8 5.2 - - - 2.4 10.6 24.4 .434 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
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 %
Nate Thurmond 79 43.3 17.1 - - 17.1 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.5 14.7 .446 - - - 4.0 5.6 .718
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond 11 41.8 14.5 - - 13.2 3.6 - - - 2.7 5.8 14.6 .398 - - - 2.9 3.6 .800
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Nate Thurmond Dion Waiters
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 %
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
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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 -
Dion Waiters ------- --- ----------