Nate Thurmond vs. Melvin Turpin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Melvin Turpin 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, 9 more than Melvin Turpin, who played 5. Nate Thurmond had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, while Melvin Turpin had his rookie season in 1984-85. 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
Melvin Turpin 5 2 1984-85 to 1989-90

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 Melvin Turpin
Season 1963-641984-85
Team San Francisco WarriorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers 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 76 25.9 7.0 - - 10.4 1.1 - - - 2.4 2.9 7.3 .395 - - - 1.3 2.3 .549
Melvin Turpin 79 24.7 10.6 2.0 3.8 5.7 0.5 0.5 1.1 1.5 2.7 4.6 9.0 .511 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .784
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
Melvin Turpin 4 11.3 6.3 0.8 1.3 2.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.8 3.0 4.8 .632 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 2

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1964-651985-86
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
Melvin Turpin 80 28.7 13.7 2.3 4.7 7.0 0.7 0.8 1.3 1.7 3.3 5.7 10.5 .544 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 2.9 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1965-661986-87
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 73 39.6 16.3 - - 18.0 1.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 15.3 .406 - - - 3.8 5.9 .654
Melvin Turpin 64 12.5 6.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.5 0.2 0.6 1.0 1.4 2.6 5.7 .462 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.2 .714
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1966-671987-88
Team San Francisco WarriorsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsJazz 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 65 42.5 18.7 - - 21.3 2.6 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.4 .437 - - - 4.3 6.8 .629
Melvin Turpin 79 12.8 5.9 1.1 1.9 3.0 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.9 2.0 2.5 4.9 .512 0.0 0.0 .333 0.9 1.2 .724
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
Melvin Turpin 7 4.4 1.1 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.3 0.7 0.4 1.3 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.3 1.000

Note: Melvin Turpin didn't play in 1988-89.

Season 5

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1967-681989-90
Team San Francisco WarriorsWashington Bullets
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
Melvin Turpin 59 13.9 4.7 1.5 2.3 3.7 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 1.9 3.5 .526 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.2 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1968-69-
Team San Francisco Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Warriors 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 %
Nate Thurmond 71 45.2 21.5 - - 19.7 3.6 - - - 2.4 8.0 19.6 .410 - - - 5.4 8.7 .615
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1969-70-
Team San Francisco Warriors-
Honors & Awards 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 43 44.6 21.9 - - 17.7 3.5 - - - 2.6 7.9 19.2 .414 - - - 6.1 8.0 .754
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
Season 1970-71-
Team San Francisco Warriors-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First 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 82 40.9 20.0 - - 13.8 3.1 - - - 2.3 7.6 17.1 .445 - - - 4.8 6.6 .730
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 11

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

Season 12

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Nate Thurmond Melvin Turpin
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
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------
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 -
Melvin Turpin ------- --- ----------