Rasho Nesterovic vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Rasho Nesterovic, 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.

Rasho Nesterovic played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Rasho Nesterovic had the first of his seasons in 1998-99, 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
Rasho Nesterovic 12 10 1998-99 to 2009-10
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 1998-991963-64
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic 2 15.0 4.0 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.5 1.5 6.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 3 9.7 2.7 1.3 1.0 2.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.3 2.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 1999-001964-65
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 82 21.0 5.7 1.6 3.0 4.6 1.1 0.3 1.0 0.9 3.2 2.5 5.3 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 0.7 1.3 .573
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 4 31.3 6.3 1.3 2.0 3.3 1.5 0.8 1.8 1.0 5.0 2.8 6.3 .440 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .500
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2000-011965-66
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 73 16.9 4.5 1.4 2.6 3.9 0.6 0.3 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.0 4.4 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .523
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 4 12.3 2.5 1.3 1.8 3.0 0.8 0.3 0.8 0.8 2.3 1.3 3.3 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2001-021966-67
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rasho Nesterovic 82 27.0 8.4 2.4 4.1 6.5 0.9 0.5 1.3 1.1 3.2 4.0 8.0 .493 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .549
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 3 31.0 11.3 2.0 4.7 6.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.3 3.3 5.0 10.3 .484 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 3.0 .444
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2002-031967-68
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Timberwolves 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 77 30.4 11.2 1.9 4.6 6.5 1.5 0.5 1.5 1.3 3.3 5.2 9.9 .525 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.2 .642
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 6 28.3 7.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 0.7 0.2 0.7 0.8 4.7 3.2 6.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .667
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2003-041968-69
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 82 28.7 8.7 3.1 4.6 7.7 1.4 0.6 2.0 1.3 3.0 4.0 8.5 .469 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.4 .474
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 10 26.3 5.9 2.1 3.4 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.1 0.8 3.8 2.9 6.7 .433 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.6 .167
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2004-051969-70
Team San Antonio SpursSan 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 70 25.5 5.9 2.6 3.9 6.6 1.0 0.4 1.7 1.0 3.0 2.8 6.1 .460 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .467
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 15 7.6 0.7 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.1 0.3 0.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.1 .000
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2005-061970-71
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 80 18.9 4.5 1.4 2.4 3.9 0.4 0.3 1.1 0.7 2.6 2.2 4.2 .515 0.0 0.0 .000 0.2 0.4 .600
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 9 12.7 2.8 0.8 2.6 3.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.2 1.9 1.2 2.1 .579 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.2 0.2 1.000
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2006-071971-72
Team Toronto RaptorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Raptors Lost East 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 80 21.0 6.2 1.4 3.1 4.5 0.9 0.5 1.1 0.7 2.4 2.9 5.3 .546 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.6 .680
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 5 14.2 3.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.8 0.8 1.4 3.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.6 1.000
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2007-081972-73
Team Toronto RaptorsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 71 20.9 7.8 1.8 3.0 4.8 1.2 0.3 0.7 0.8 1.9 3.6 6.6 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 0.5 0.7 .755
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 5 15.4 4.6 0.6 2.0 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.4 1.0 2.8 2.2 4.4 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.4 .500
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

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2008-091973-74
Team Indiana PacersGolden 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 70 17.3 6.8 1.3 2.1 3.4 1.6 0.4 0.5 0.9 2.4 3.2 6.2 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.5 .781
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Rasho Nesterovic Nate Thurmond
Season 2009-101974-75
Team Toronto RaptorsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBulls 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic 42 9.8 3.9 0.9 1.2 2.1 0.6 0.2 0.4 0.4 1.3 1.9 3.5 .544 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.1 .200
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
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

Rasho Nesterovic 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
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

Rasho Nesterovic 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 %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
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 %
Rasho Nesterovic ------- --- ----------
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 -