Robert Parish vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Robert Parish, 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.

Robert Parish played 21 years in the NBA, 7 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Robert Parish had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, 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
Robert Parish 21 16 1976-77 to 1996-97
Nate Thurmond 14 9 1963-64 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21

Rookie Season

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1976-771963-64
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 77 18.0 9.1 2.6 4.4 7.1 1.0 0.7 1.2 - 2.9 3.7 7.4 .503 - - - 1.6 2.2 .708
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 %
Robert Parish 10 23.9 12.1 4.3 6.0 10.3 1.1 0.7 1.1 - 4.2 5.2 10.8 .481 - - - 1.7 2.6 .654
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1977-781964-65
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
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 %
Robert Parish 82 24.0 12.5 2.6 5.7 8.3 1.2 1.0 1.5 2.5 3.5 5.2 11.1 .472 - - - 2.0 3.2 .625
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 %
Robert Parish ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1978-791965-66
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
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 %
Robert Parish 76 31.7 17.2 3.5 8.6 12.1 1.5 1.3 2.9 3.1 4.0 7.3 14.6 .499 - - - 2.6 3.7 .698
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 %
Robert Parish ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1979-801966-67
Team Golden State WarriorsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
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 %
Robert Parish 72 29.4 17.0 3.4 7.4 10.9 1.7 0.8 1.6 3.1 3.4 7.1 14.0 .507 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.9 .715
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 %
Robert Parish ------- --- ----------
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1980-811967-68
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement 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 %
Robert Parish 82 28.0 18.9 3.0 6.5 9.5 1.8 1.0 2.6 2.3 3.8 7.7 14.2 .545 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 4.8 .710
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 %
Robert Parish 17 28.9 15.0 2.9 5.6 8.6 1.1 1.2 2.3 2.6 4.4 6.4 12.9 .493 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.4 .672
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1981-821968-69
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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 %
Robert Parish 80 31.7 19.9 3.6 7.2 10.8 1.8 0.9 2.4 2.8 3.3 8.4 15.4 .542 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.4 .710
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 %
Robert Parish 12 35.5 21.3 3.6 7.7 11.3 1.5 0.4 4.0 3.3 3.9 8.5 17.4 .488 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.3 .680
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1982-831969-70
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards 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 %
Robert Parish 78 31.5 19.3 3.3 7.3 10.6 1.8 1.0 1.9 2.4 2.8 7.9 14.4 .550 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 5.0 .698
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 %
Robert Parish 7 35.6 14.7 3.0 7.6 10.6 1.3 0.7 1.3 2.4 2.6 6.1 12.7 .483 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.9 .850
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1983-841970-71
Team Boston CelticsSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
Robert Parish 80 35.8 19.0 3.0 7.7 10.7 1.7 0.7 1.5 2.3 3.3 7.8 14.3 .546 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 4.6 .745
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 %
Robert Parish 23 37.8 14.9 3.3 7.5 10.8 1.2 1.0 1.8 2.0 4.3 6.0 12.7 .478 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.3 .646
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1984-851971-72
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 %
Robert Parish 79 36.1 17.6 3.3 7.3 10.6 1.6 0.7 1.3 2.4 2.8 7.0 12.9 .542 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.0 .743
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 %
Robert Parish 21 38.2 17.1 2.7 7.7 10.4 1.5 1.0 1.6 2.4 3.2 6.5 13.1 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.3 .784
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1985-861972-73
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
Robert Parish 81 31.7 16.1 3.0 6.5 9.5 1.8 0.8 1.4 2.3 2.7 6.5 11.9 .549 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.1 .731
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 %
Robert Parish 18 32.8 15.0 2.9 5.9 8.8 1.4 0.5 1.7 2.4 2.6 5.9 12.5 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 4.9 .652
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1986-871973-74
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Robert Parish 80 37.4 17.5 3.2 7.5 10.6 2.2 0.8 1.8 2.4 3.3 7.4 13.2 .556 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.9 .735
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 %
Robert Parish 21 35.0 18.0 2.8 6.6 9.4 1.3 0.9 1.7 1.8 3.8 7.1 12.5 .567 0.0 0.0 .000 3.8 4.9 .767
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1987-881974-75
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsBulls 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 %
Robert Parish 74 31.2 14.3 2.3 6.1 8.5 1.6 0.7 1.1 2.1 2.7 6.0 10.1 .589 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .734
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 %
Robert Parish 17 36.8 14.7 3.0 6.9 9.9 1.2 0.6 1.1 2.2 2.5 5.9 11.1 .532 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.6 .820
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1988-891975-76
Team Boston CelticsChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Robert Parish 80 35.5 18.6 4.3 8.2 12.5 2.2 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.6 7.5 13.1 .570 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.1 .719
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 %
Robert Parish 3 37.3 15.7 2.0 6.7 8.7 2.0 1.3 0.7 2.0 1.7 6.7 14.7 .455 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .778
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1989-901976-77
Team Boston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Robert Parish 79 30.3 15.7 3.3 6.8 10.1 1.3 0.5 0.9 2.1 2.4 6.4 11.0 .580 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.9 .747
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 %
Robert Parish 5 34.0 15.8 4.6 5.4 10.0 2.6 1.0 1.4 2.4 4.2 6.2 10.8 .574 0.0 0.0 - 3.4 3.6 .944
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

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1990-91-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Robert Parish 81 30.1 14.9 3.3 7.2 10.6 0.8 0.8 1.3 1.9 2.4 6.0 10.0 .598 0.0 0.0 .000 2.9 3.8 .767
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 10 29.6 15.8 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.6 0.8 0.7 1.6 3.4 5.8 9.7 .598 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 6.1 .689
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1991-92-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Robert Parish 79 28.9 14.1 2.8 6.2 8.9 0.9 0.9 1.2 1.7 2.2 5.9 11.1 .535 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.9 .772
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 10 33.5 12.0 3.8 5.9 9.7 1.4 0.7 1.5 0.9 2.2 5.0 10.1 .495 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .714
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1992-93-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Robert Parish 79 27.2 12.6 3.1 6.3 9.4 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.5 2.5 5.3 9.8 .535 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 3.0 .689
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 4 36.5 17.0 3.3 6.3 9.5 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.5 3.5 7.8 14.3 .544 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.8 .857
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1993-94-
Team Boston Celtics-
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 %
Robert Parish 74 26.9 11.7 1.9 5.4 7.3 1.1 0.6 1.3 1.5 2.6 4.8 9.8 .491 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .740
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1994-95-
Team Charlotte Hornets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hornets 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 %
Robert Parish 81 16.7 4.8 1.1 3.2 4.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.6 2.0 4.6 .427 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.2 .703
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 4 17.8 3.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.5 2.8 .545 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.3 .400
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 20

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1995-96-
Team Charlotte Hornets-
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 %
Robert Parish 74 14.7 3.9 1.2 2.9 4.1 0.4 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.1 1.6 3.3 .498 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.0 .704
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 21

Robert Parish Nate Thurmond
Season 1996-97-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 43 9.4 3.7 1.0 1.1 2.1 0.5 0.1 0.4 0.7 0.9 1.6 3.3 .490 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .677
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Robert Parish 2 9.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.5 0.0 1.0 0.5 3.5 .143 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------