Slater Martin vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Slater Martin, 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.

Slater Martin played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Slater Martin had the first of his seasons in 1949-50, 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
Slater Martin 11 11 1949-50 to 1959-60
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1949-501963-64
Team Minneapolis LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Slater Martin 67 - 4.0 - - - 2.2 - - - 2.4 1.6 4.5 .351 - - - 0.9 1.4 .634
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 %
Slater Martin 12 - 4.7 - - - 2.1 - - - 2.9 1.8 4.2 .420 - - - 1.2 2.0 .583
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1950-511964-65
Team Minneapolis LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Slater Martin 68 - 8.5 - - 3.6 3.5 - - - 2.9 3.3 9.2 .362 - - - 1.8 2.6 .684
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 %
Slater Martin 7 - 7.1 - - 6.0 3.6 - - - 2.9 2.6 7.3 .353 - - - 2.0 3.9 .519
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1951-521965-66
Team Minneapolis LakersSan 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 %
Slater Martin 66 37.6 9.3 - - 3.5 3.8 - - - 3.4 3.6 9.6 .375 - - - 2.2 2.9 .747
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 %
Slater Martin 13 40.2 9.0 - - 2.8 4.3 - - - 4.9 2.9 8.5 .345 - - - 3.2 4.3 .732
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1952-531966-67
Team Minneapolis LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Slater Martin 70 36.5 10.6 - - 2.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 3.7 9.1 .410 - - - 3.2 4.1 .780
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 %
Slater Martin 12 37.8 10.1 - - 2.6 3.6 - - - 4.1 3.4 8.6 .398 - - - 3.3 4.3 .765
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1953-541967-68
Team Minneapolis LakersSan 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 %
Slater Martin 69 35.8 9.9 - - 2.4 3.7 - - - 2.9 3.7 9.5 .388 - - - 2.6 3.5 .724
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 %
Slater Martin 13 41.0 9.7 - - 2.2 4.6 - - - 4.0 2.8 8.6 .330 - - - 4.0 5.4 .743
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1954-551968-69
Team Minneapolis LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div 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 %
Slater Martin 72 38.7 13.6 - - 3.6 5.9 - - - 3.1 4.9 12.8 .381 - - - 3.8 5.0 .769
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 %
Slater Martin 7 45.0 13.7 - - 4.0 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.0 13.4 .298 - - - 5.7 7.0 .816
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1955-561969-70
Team Minneapolis LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Slater Martin 72 39.4 13.2 - - 3.6 6.2 - - - 2.8 4.3 12.0 .358 - - - 4.6 5.5 .833
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 %
Slater Martin 3 40.3 18.0 - - 2.3 5.0 - - - 3.0 5.7 12.3 .459 - - - 6.7 8.0 .833
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1956-571970-71
Team New York Knicks, St. Louis HawksSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Slater Martin 66 36.4 10.9 - - 4.4 4.1 - - - 2.9 3.7 11.2 .332 - - - 3.5 4.4 .790
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 %
Slater Martin 10 43.9 16.6 - - 4.2 4.9 - - - 3.9 5.5 15.5 .355 - - - 5.6 7.4 .757
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1957-581971-72
Team St. Louis HawksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 %
Slater Martin 60 35.0 12.0 - - 3.8 3.6 - - - 3.1 4.3 12.8 .336 - - - 3.4 4.6 .746
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 %
Slater Martin 11 37.8 11.5 - - 4.4 3.6 - - - 3.6 4.0 12.5 .321 - - - 3.5 5.7 .619
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1958-591972-73
Team St. Louis HawksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks Lost West Div FinalsWarriors 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 %
Slater Martin 71 35.3 9.7 - - 3.6 4.7 - - - 3.2 3.5 9.9 .347 - - - 2.8 3.6 .776
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 %
Slater Martin 1 18.0 8.0 - - 3.0 2.0 - - - 2.0 4.0 5.0 .800 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
Season 1959-601973-74
Team St. Louis HawksGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Slater Martin 64 27.4 6.2 - - 2.9 5.2 - - - 2.7 2.2 6.0 .371 - - - 1.8 2.4 .729
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 %
Slater Martin 3 19.3 1.0 - - 1.0 2.7 - - - 3.0 0.3 4.3 .077 - - - 0.3 1.3 .250
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Slater Martin Nate Thurmond
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 %
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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

Slater Martin 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 %
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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

Slater Martin 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 %
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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 %
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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 -