Manu Ginobili vs. Nate Thurmond Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Nate Thurmond and Manu Ginobili, 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.

Manu Ginobili played 16 years in the NBA, 2 more than Nate Thurmond, who played 14. Manu Ginobili had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, 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
Manu Ginobili 16 15 2002-03 to 2017-18
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

Rookie Season

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2002-031963-64
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second 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 %
Manu Ginobili 69 20.7 7.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.5 2.5 5.8 .438 0.7 2.1 .345 1.8 2.5 .737
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 %
Manu Ginobili 24 27.5 9.4 1.2 2.6 3.8 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.5 2.6 3.0 7.7 .386 1.2 3.0 .384 2.3 3.1 .757
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2003-041964-65
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Manu Ginobili 77 29.4 12.8 1.1 3.4 4.5 3.8 1.8 0.2 2.1 2.4 4.3 10.2 .418 1.1 3.2 .359 3.1 3.9 .802
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 %
Manu Ginobili 10 27.9 13.0 1.5 3.8 5.3 3.1 1.7 0.1 2.1 3.0 4.2 9.4 .447 1.0 3.5 .286 3.6 4.4 .818
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2004-051965-66
Team San Antonio SpursSan 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 %
Manu Ginobili 74 29.6 16.0 1.0 3.4 4.4 3.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.6 5.0 10.5 .471 1.3 3.5 .376 4.8 6.0 .803
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 %
Manu Ginobili 23 33.7 20.8 0.8 5.0 5.8 4.2 1.2 0.3 2.9 3.0 6.3 12.4 .507 1.8 4.2 .438 6.4 8.0 .795
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2005-061966-67
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 65 27.9 15.1 0.6 2.9 3.5 3.6 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.4 4.8 10.3 .462 1.3 3.3 .382 4.3 5.5 .778
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 %
Manu Ginobili 13 32.8 18.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.0 1.5 0.5 2.5 3.3 5.8 12.1 .484 1.1 3.2 .333 5.6 6.7 .839
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2006-071967-68
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 %
Manu Ginobili 75 27.5 16.5 0.8 3.6 4.4 3.5 1.5 0.4 2.1 2.1 5.3 11.4 .464 1.7 4.3 .396 4.3 5.0 .860
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 %
Manu Ginobili 20 30.1 16.7 0.8 4.7 5.5 3.7 1.7 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.0 12.4 .401 1.9 5.0 .384 4.9 5.8 .836
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2007-081968-69
Team San Antonio SpursSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Manu Ginobili 74 31.1 19.5 0.9 3.9 4.8 4.5 1.5 0.4 2.7 2.3 6.1 13.3 .460 2.1 5.3 .401 5.1 6.0 .860
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 %
Manu Ginobili 17 32.9 17.8 0.8 2.9 3.8 3.9 0.6 0.3 2.8 2.8 5.8 13.6 .422 2.2 6.0 .373 4.1 4.5 .896
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2008-091969-70
Team San Antonio SpursSan 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 %
Manu Ginobili 44 26.8 15.5 0.5 4.0 4.5 3.6 1.5 0.4 2.0 2.0 5.1 11.2 .454 1.6 4.8 .330 3.8 4.3 .884
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 %
Manu Ginobili ------- --- ----------
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2009-101970-71
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 %
Manu Ginobili 75 28.7 16.5 0.9 2.9 3.8 4.9 1.4 0.3 2.1 2.1 5.3 12.0 .441 1.8 4.7 .377 4.1 4.7 .870
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 %
Manu Ginobili 10 35.2 19.4 0.4 3.3 3.7 6.0 2.6 0.2 3.0 3.0 5.8 14.0 .414 2.0 6.0 .333 5.8 6.7 .866
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2010-111971-72
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 80 30.3 17.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 4.9 1.5 0.4 2.2 2.0 5.5 12.7 .433 1.9 5.5 .349 4.5 5.1 .871
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 %
Manu Ginobili 5 34.8 20.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.2 2.6 0.6 3.4 2.6 6.2 14.0 .443 1.8 5.6 .321 6.4 8.2 .780
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2011-121972-73
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 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 %
Manu Ginobili 34 23.3 12.9 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.4 0.7 0.4 1.9 1.6 4.4 8.4 .526 1.5 3.7 .413 2.6 3.0 .871
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 %
Manu Ginobili 14 27.9 14.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 4.0 0.7 0.3 3.0 2.6 4.6 10.4 .448 1.6 4.9 .338 3.4 4.0 .857
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2012-131973-74
Team San Antonio SpursGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 60 23.2 11.8 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.6 1.3 0.2 2.2 1.9 3.8 9.0 .425 1.4 3.9 .353 2.7 3.4 .796
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 %
Manu Ginobili 21 26.7 11.5 0.4 3.3 3.7 5.0 1.1 0.3 2.6 2.5 3.7 9.2 .399 1.4 4.6 .302 2.8 3.8 .738
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2013-141974-75
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBulls 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 %
Manu Ginobili 68 22.8 12.3 0.4 2.5 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 1.9 4.3 9.2 .469 1.3 3.8 .349 2.4 2.8 .851
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 %
Manu Ginobili 23 25.5 14.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 4.1 1.6 0.1 2.3 2.6 4.5 10.3 .439 1.8 4.6 .390 3.5 4.1 .862
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2014-151975-76
Team San Antonio SpursChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Manu Ginobili 70 22.7 10.5 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.2 1.0 0.3 2.2 2.0 3.6 8.4 .426 1.3 3.7 .345 2.1 2.9 .721
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 %
Manu Ginobili 7 18.7 8.0 0.6 2.9 3.4 4.6 0.6 0.9 2.0 2.7 2.1 6.1 .349 1.1 3.1 .364 2.6 3.3 .783
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2015-161976-77
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Manu Ginobili 58 19.6 9.6 0.4 2.1 2.5 3.1 1.1 0.2 1.7 1.7 3.4 7.5 .453 1.2 3.1 .391 1.6 1.9 .813
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 %
Manu Ginobili 10 19.2 6.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.5 2.0 4.7 .426 0.9 2.1 .429 1.8 2.3 .783
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

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2016-17-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 69 18.7 7.5 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.7 1.2 0.2 1.4 1.7 2.5 6.4 .390 1.3 3.3 .392 1.2 1.6 .804
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 16 17.8 6.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.5 6.1 .412 0.6 2.5 .225 1.1 1.4 .739
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Manu Ginobili Nate Thurmond
Season 2017-18-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Manu Ginobili 65 20.0 8.9 0.3 1.9 2.2 2.5 0.7 0.2 1.6 1.9 3.1 7.1 .434 1.0 3.0 .333 1.7 2.0 .840
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Manu Ginobili 5 21.4 9.0 0.2 2.8 3.0 3.2 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.6 3.0 7.4 .405 1.2 3.6 .333 1.8 2.2 .818
Nate Thurmond ------- --- ----------