Rajon Rondo vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Rajon Rondo, 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.

Rajon Rondo played 16 years in the NBA, 2 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Rajon Rondo had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, 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
Rajon Rondo 16 10 2006-07 to 2021-22
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2006-071963-64
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo 78 23.5 6.4 0.9 2.8 3.7 3.8 1.6 0.1 1.8 2.3 2.4 5.8 .418 0.1 0.4 .207 1.5 2.4 .647
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2007-081964-65
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Rajon Rondo 77 29.9 10.6 1.0 3.2 4.2 5.1 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.4 4.6 9.3 .492 0.1 0.2 .263 1.4 2.3 .611
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 %
Rajon Rondo 26 32.0 10.2 1.5 2.6 4.1 6.6 1.7 0.3 1.8 2.8 4.1 10.1 .407 0.2 0.8 .250 1.8 2.6 .691
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2008-091965-66
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Rajon Rondo 80 33.0 11.9 1.3 4.0 5.2 8.2 1.9 0.1 2.6 2.4 4.8 9.5 .505 0.2 0.6 .313 2.2 3.4 .642
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 %
Rajon Rondo 14 41.2 16.9 2.3 7.4 9.7 9.8 2.5 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.6 15.9 .417 0.4 1.7 .250 3.1 4.8 .657
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2009-101966-67
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Rajon Rondo 81 36.6 13.7 1.2 3.2 4.4 9.8 2.3 0.1 3.0 2.4 5.7 11.2 .508 0.2 1.0 .213 2.2 3.5 .621
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 %
Rajon Rondo 24 40.6 15.8 1.6 4.0 5.6 9.3 1.9 0.1 3.0 2.4 6.3 13.6 .463 0.4 1.0 .375 2.8 4.8 .596
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2010-111967-68
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Rajon Rondo 68 37.2 10.6 1.3 3.1 4.4 11.2 2.3 0.2 3.4 1.8 4.7 9.9 .475 0.1 0.6 .233 1.1 1.9 .568
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 %
Rajon Rondo 9 38.3 14.0 1.2 4.2 5.4 9.6 1.1 0.0 3.7 1.8 5.7 11.9 .477 0.0 0.3 .000 2.7 4.2 .632
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2011-121968-69
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East 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 %
Rajon Rondo 53 36.9 11.9 1.2 3.7 4.8 11.7 1.8 0.1 3.6 1.9 4.8 10.8 .448 0.2 0.8 .238 2.0 3.4 .597
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 %
Rajon Rondo 19 42.6 17.3 1.8 4.9 6.7 11.9 2.4 0.1 3.8 2.1 7.4 15.8 .468 0.4 1.6 .267 2.1 2.9 .696
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2012-131969-70
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Rajon Rondo 38 37.4 13.7 1.1 4.4 5.6 11.1 1.8 0.2 3.9 2.5 5.9 12.2 .484 0.3 1.3 .240 1.6 2.4 .645
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2013-141970-71
Team Boston CelticsSan 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 %
Rajon Rondo 30 33.3 11.7 0.7 4.7 5.5 9.8 1.3 0.1 3.3 2.2 4.7 11.7 .403 0.9 3.0 .289 1.4 2.2 .627
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2014-151971-72
Team Boston Celtics, Dallas MavericksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Mavericks Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Rajon Rondo 68 29.7 8.9 1.1 4.4 5.5 7.9 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.3 4.0 9.5 .426 0.4 1.3 .314 0.5 1.1 .397
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 %
Rajon Rondo 2 18.5 9.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 4.5 10.0 .450 0.5 1.0 .500 0.0 0.0 -
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2015-161972-73
Team Sacramento KingsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Assists Leader-
-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 %
Rajon Rondo 72 35.2 11.9 1.1 5.0 6.0 11.7 2.0 0.1 3.9 2.4 4.9 10.9 .454 0.9 2.4 .365 1.2 2.1 .580
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2016-171973-74
Team Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Rajon Rondo 69 26.7 7.8 1.1 4.1 5.1 6.7 1.4 0.2 2.4 2.1 3.3 8.1 .408 0.7 1.9 .376 0.4 0.7 .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 %
Rajon Rondo 2 33.5 11.5 3.5 5.0 8.5 10.0 3.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 5.5 13.0 .423 0.0 3.0 .000 0.5 1.0 .500
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2017-181974-75
Team New Orleans PelicansChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pelicans Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
Rajon Rondo 65 26.2 8.3 0.5 3.6 4.0 8.2 1.1 0.2 2.3 1.8 3.6 7.6 .468 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.7 .543
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 %
Rajon Rondo 9 33.6 10.3 1.0 6.6 7.6 12.2 1.4 0.2 3.7 2.2 4.2 10.2 .413 0.9 2.1 .421 1.0 1.6 .643
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2018-191975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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 %
Rajon Rondo 46 29.8 9.2 0.7 4.5 5.3 8.0 1.2 0.2 2.8 2.2 3.8 9.4 .405 1.1 3.1 .359 0.5 0.8 .639
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 %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
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

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2019-201976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers 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 %
Rajon Rondo 48 20.5 7.1 0.5 2.5 3.0 5.0 0.8 0.0 1.9 1.2 2.9 6.8 .418 0.9 2.6 .328 0.6 0.9 .659
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 %
Rajon Rondo 16 24.7 8.9 0.8 3.5 4.3 6.6 1.4 0.1 2.1 2.3 3.4 7.6 .455 1.3 3.1 .400 0.8 1.2 .684
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 -

Season 15

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2020-21-
Team Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Rajon Rondo 45 17.1 5.4 0.4 2.0 2.4 4.4 0.8 0.1 1.8 1.2 2.1 4.8 .442 0.8 2.0 .404 0.4 0.4 .941
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo 13 16.9 4.2 0.3 2.3 2.6 3.8 0.4 0.2 1.1 1.4 1.4 4.1 .340 0.8 2.2 .393 0.6 0.9 .667
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Rajon Rondo Nate Thurmond
Season 2021-22-
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rajon Rondo 39 17.9 4.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 4.4 0.8 0.2 1.7 1.4 1.7 4.5 .386 0.8 2.3 .352 0.5 0.7 .731
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rajon Rondo ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------