Norm Nixon vs. Tristan Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tristan Thompson and Norm Nixon, 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.

Norm Nixon played 10 years in the NBA, 3 less than Tristan Thompson, who played 13. Norm Nixon had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, while Tristan Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
Norm Nixon 10 6 1977-78 to 1988-89
Tristan Thompson 13 8 2011-12 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1977-782011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Norm Nixon 81 34.3 13.7 0.5 2.4 3.0 6.8 1.7 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.1 12.3 .497 - - - 1.4 2.0 .714
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 3.2 .552
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 3 30.7 8.0 1.3 1.7 3.0 5.3 1.3 0.3 1.7 4.3 3.7 8.0 .458 - - - 0.7 1.0 .667
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1978-792012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Norm Nixon 82 38.4 17.1 0.6 2.2 2.8 9.0 2.5 0.2 2.8 3.0 7.6 14.0 .542 - - - 1.9 2.5 .775
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.5 .608
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 8 40.9 15.4 0.8 2.8 3.5 11.8 1.4 0.0 3.0 4.6 7.0 14.9 .471 - - - 1.4 1.9 .733
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 82 39.3 17.6 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.8 1.8 0.2 3.5 2.9 7.6 14.7 .516 0.0 0.1 .125 2.4 3.1 .779
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 4.1 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 16 40.5 16.9 0.8 2.7 3.5 7.8 2.0 0.2 3.1 3.7 7.1 14.9 .477 0.1 0.3 .200 2.6 3.2 .804
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1980-812014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 79 37.5 17.1 0.8 2.1 2.9 8.8 1.8 0.1 3.6 2.9 7.3 15.3 .476 0.0 0.2 .167 2.5 3.2 .778
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 3 44.3 19.3 0.3 3.3 3.7 8.7 0.3 0.3 1.7 3.0 8.3 16.3 .510 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585

Season 5

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1981-822015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 82 36.9 17.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 8.0 1.6 0.1 2.9 3.2 7.7 15.5 .493 0.0 0.1 .250 2.2 2.7 .808
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 14 39.2 20.4 0.9 2.1 3.1 8.1 1.6 0.1 2.4 3.1 8.6 18.1 .478 0.1 0.2 .333 3.1 4.1 .754
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575

Season 6

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1982-832016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 79 34.3 15.1 0.8 1.8 2.6 7.2 1.3 0.1 3.0 2.2 6.7 14.2 .475 0.0 0.2 .000 1.6 2.1 .744
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.7 .498
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 14 38.4 19.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 6.4 1.3 0.1 2.4 2.9 8.1 16.9 .477 0.2 0.5 .429 2.6 3.6 .740
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667

Season 7

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1983-842017-18
Team San Diego ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon 82 37.2 17.0 0.7 1.8 2.5 11.1 1.1 0.0 3.1 2.2 7.2 15.5 .462 0.1 0.6 .239 2.5 3.3 .760
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741

Season 8

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1984-852018-19
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland 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 %
Norm Nixon 81 35.7 17.2 0.7 2.0 2.7 8.8 1.2 0.0 3.4 2.2 7.4 15.8 .465 0.4 1.2 .333 2.1 2.7 .780
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1985-862019-20
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Norm Nixon 67 31.9 14.6 0.7 2.0 2.7 8.6 1.3 0.0 2.8 2.1 6.0 13.7 .438 0.6 1.8 .347 2.0 2.4 .809
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------

Note: Norm Nixon didn't play in 1986-87 and 1987-88.

Season 10

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season 1988-892020-21
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Norm Nixon 53 24.9 6.8 0.2 1.2 1.5 6.4 0.9 0.0 2.2 1.3 2.9 7.0 .414 0.2 0.5 .276 0.9 1.2 .738
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 11

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season -2021-22
Team -Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Bulls 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 %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season -2022-23
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 6 5.3 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.8 .200

Season 13

Norm Nixon Tristan Thompson
Season -2023-24
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 49 11.2 3.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.4 .608 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 1.1 .288
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Norm Nixon ------- --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 10 8.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.6 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .500