Walt Bellamy vs. David Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of David Thompson and Walt Bellamy, 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.

Walt Bellamy played 14 years in the NBA, 6 more than David Thompson, who played 8. Walt Bellamy had the first of his seasons in 1961-62, while David Thompson had his rookie season in 1976-77. 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
Walt Bellamy 14 7 1961-62 to 1974-75
David Thompson 8 5 1976-77 to 1983-84

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1961-621976-77
Team Chicago PackersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Walt Bellamy 79 42.3 31.6 - - 19.0 2.7 - - - 3.6 12.3 23.7 .519 - - - 6.9 10.8 .644
David Thompson 82 36.6 25.9 1.7 2.4 4.1 4.1 1.4 0.6 - 2.9 10.0 19.8 .507 - - - 5.8 7.6 .766
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson 6 39.5 24.7 2.2 3.0 5.2 4.0 1.5 0.7 - 3.7 9.3 20.2 .463 - - - 6.0 8.8 .679

Season 2

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1962-631977-78
Team Chicago ZephyrsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Walt Bellamy 80 41.3 27.9 - - 16.4 2.9 - - - 3.5 10.5 19.9 .527 - - - 6.9 10.3 .674
David Thompson 80 37.8 27.2 2.0 2.9 4.9 4.5 1.2 1.2 3.1 2.7 10.3 19.8 .521 - - - 6.5 8.4 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson 13 37.0 25.2 1.4 2.7 4.1 4.0 0.7 1.6 3.0 2.6 10.1 22.4 .450 - - - 5.1 6.2 .825

Season 3

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1963-641978-79
Team Baltimore BulletsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 80 42.4 27.0 - - 17.0 1.6 - - - 3.8 10.1 19.8 .513 - - - 6.7 10.3 .651
David Thompson 76 35.1 24.0 1.4 2.2 3.6 3.0 0.9 1.1 2.4 2.4 9.1 17.8 .512 - - - 5.8 7.7 .753
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson 3 40.7 28.0 2.3 4.7 7.0 4.0 1.3 0.3 4.0 4.0 12.7 23.0 .551 - - - 2.7 3.7 .727

Season 4

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1964-651979-80
Team Baltimore BulletsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bullets 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 %
Walt Bellamy 80 41.3 24.8 - - 14.6 2.4 - - - 3.3 9.2 18.0 .509 - - - 6.4 9.4 .685
David Thompson 39 31.8 21.5 1.4 3.0 4.5 3.2 1.0 1.0 3.0 2.7 7.4 15.8 .468 0.2 0.5 .368 6.5 8.6 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 10 42.7 20.9 - - 15.1 3.4 - - - 3.8 7.4 15.8 .468 - - - 6.1 9.2 .663
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1965-661980-81
Team Baltimore Bullets, New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
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 %
Walt Bellamy 80 41.9 22.8 - - 15.7 2.9 - - - 3.7 8.7 17.2 .506 - - - 5.4 8.6 .624
David Thompson 77 34.0 25.5 1.4 2.3 3.7 3.0 0.7 0.8 3.2 3.0 9.5 18.8 .506 0.1 0.5 .256 6.4 8.0 .795
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1966-671981-82
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 79 38.1 19.0 - - 13.5 2.6 - - - 3.5 7.2 13.7 .521 - - - 4.7 7.3 .636
David Thompson 61 20.4 14.9 0.9 1.5 2.4 1.9 0.6 0.5 2.3 2.4 5.1 10.6 .486 0.1 0.2 .286 4.5 5.6 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 4 39.3 18.3 - - 16.5 3.0 - - - 3.8 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 4.3 7.3 .586
David Thompson 3 22.0 11.7 1.3 2.0 3.3 2.0 0.3 0.0 2.7 2.7 5.0 11.0 .455 0.3 1.0 .333 1.3 2.3 .571

Season 7

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1967-681982-83
Team New York KnicksSeattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div SemisSupersonics Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 82 32.9 16.7 - - 11.7 2.0 - - - 3.2 6.2 11.5 .541 - - - 4.3 6.5 .662
David Thompson 75 28.7 15.9 1.3 2.3 3.6 3.0 0.6 0.4 2.2 1.9 5.9 12.3 .481 0.0 0.1 .200 4.0 5.1 .784
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 6 46.2 20.0 - - 16.0 3.5 - - - 3.7 7.5 17.8 .421 - - - 5.0 8.0 .625
David Thompson 2 32.5 12.0 0.0 0.0 0 3.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 3.5 4.5 12.5 .360 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 5.0 .600

Season 8

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1968-691983-84
Team New York Knicks, Detroit PistonsSeattle Supersonics
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 %
Walt Bellamy 88 35.9 17.4 - - 12.5 2.0 - - - 3.6 6.4 12.5 .510 - - - 4.6 7.0 .649
David Thompson 19 18.4 12.6 0.9 1.4 2.3 0.7 0.5 0.7 1.4 1.6 4.7 8.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 3.8 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1969-70-
Team Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks Lost West Div Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 79 25.7 11.6 - - 8.9 1.8 - - - 3.3 4.4 8.5 .523 - - - 2.7 4.7 .576
David Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 9 40.9 16.8 - - 15.6 3.9 - - - 3.6 6.6 14.0 .468 - - - 3.7 5.1 .717
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1970-71-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Walt Bellamy 82 35.5 14.7 - - 12.9 2.8 - - - 3.3 5.3 10.7 .493 - - - 4.1 6.8 .604
David Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 5 43.2 20.8 - - 14.4 2.0 - - - 3.2 8.2 13.8 .594 - - - 4.4 5.8 .759
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1971-72-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Walt Bellamy 82 38.9 18.6 - - 12.8 3.2 - - - 3.1 7.2 13.3 .545 - - - 4.1 7.1 .585
David Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 6 41.2 18.5 - - 13.7 1.8 - - - 3.3 7.0 14.3 .488 - - - 4.5 7.2 .628
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1972-73-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Walt Bellamy 74 37.9 16.1 - - 13.0 2.4 - - - 3.3 6.1 12.2 .505 - - - 3.8 7.1 .538
David Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy 6 41.2 13.7 - - 12.2 2.2 - - - 2.8 5.7 14.3 .395 - - - 2.3 5.2 .452
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1973-74-
Team Atlanta Hawks-
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 %
Walt Bellamy 77 31.7 13.1 3.4 6.2 9.6 2.5 0.7 0.6 - 3.0 5.1 10.4 .486 - - - 3.0 5.0 .608
David Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Walt Bellamy David Thompson
Season 1974-75-
Team New Orleans Jazz-
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 %
Walt Bellamy 1 14.0 6.0 0.0 5.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.000 - - - 2.0 2.0 1.000
David Thompson ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Walt Bellamy ------- --- ----------
David Thompson ------- --- ----------