Nate Thurmond

Nate Thurmond

Thurmond during his tenure with the Cavaliers
Personal information
Born	(1941-07-25) July 25, 1941 Akron, Ohio
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school	Central (Akron, Ohio)
College	Bowling Green (1960–1963)
NBA draft	1963 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall
Selected by the San Francisco Warriors
Pro career	1963–1977
Position	Power forward / Center
Number	42
Career history
1963–1974	San Francisco / Golden State Warriors
1974–1976	Chicago Bulls
1976–1977	Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
7× NBA All-Star (1965–1968, 1970, 1973–1974) 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1969, 1971) 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1974) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1964) NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team No. 42 retired by the Golden State Warriors No. 42 retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers Consensus second team All-American (1963)
Career statistics
Points	14,437 (15.0 ppg)
Rebounds	14,464 (15.0 rpg)
Assists	2,575 (2.7 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Basketball Hall of Fame as player

Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond (born July 25, 1941) is a retired American basketball player. Dominant at both center and power forward, he was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record an official quadruple-double.

Thurmond remains one of the greatest rebounders and shot blockers ever, named both a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Known to fans as "Nate the Great",^[1] Thurmond has had his #42 jersey retired by both the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers franchises.^[2]

Career

He played in high school with another future NBA star, Gus Johnson, at Akron Central. Their powerful team went undefeated before losing to Middletown, led by Jerry Lucas, in the Ohio state high school playoffs. Passing on a scholarship offer to Ohio State, to avoid becoming Lucas's backup there, the 6'11" Thurmond chose Bowling Green. He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News in 1963, and was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors later that year.

With the Warriors, Thurmond was an aggressive rebounder-defender who played at the forward position opposite superstar Wilt Chamberlain or was his backup at center. Despite playing on the same team as the dominant Chamberlain, Thurmond made an impact and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1964.

When Chamberlain was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Thurmond became the All-Star starting center Chamberlain said he could be. Among his many accomplishments, Thurmond still holds the regular season record for rebounds in a quarter with 18. He averaged 21.3 and 22.0 rebounds per game in the 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons — season averages exceeded by only Bill Russell and Chamberlain in NBA history. Thurmond placed second to Chamberlain in the MVP balloting in the 1966-67 season, and averaged over 20 points per game each season from 1967-68 through 1971-72, and played in seven NBA All-Star Games while with the Warriors. However, while star players like Rick Barry and Jerry Lucas came and went, the Warriors were unable to win a championship with Thurmond at center, often failing to get past the star studded Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division playoffs. Thurmond was an excellent passing center and was well known as the best screen setter in the league for many years.

He was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Clifford Ray prior to the 1974-75 season. On October 18, 1974 against the Atlanta Hawks, in his debut as a Bull, he recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots, becoming the first player in NBA history to officially record a quadruple-double (blocked shots were not counted before 1973–74).^[3] He was then traded to Cleveland Cavaliers 13 games into the following season. In Cleveland, the now 35-year-old Thurmond came off the bench for the injured Jim Chones to lead Cleveland to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals before the Cavaliers lost to the star-studded Boston Celtics in 1976.

After retirement, Thurmond returned to San Francisco and opened a restaurant, Big Nate's BBQ, after a brief attempt at broadcasting. He sold the restaurant after 20 years, and currently lives in San Francisco with his wife, Marci.^[4] He has been given the title "Warriors Legend & Ambassador" by the Warriors organization.^[4]

NBA statistics

Career highs

Regular season

Stat	High	Opponent	Date
Points	43	at Detroit Pistons	01971-02-24-0000February 24, 1971
Points	42	at Detroit Pistons	01971-12-30-0000December 30, 1971
Field goal percentage
Field goals made	18	at Detroit Pistons	01971-02-24-0000February 24, 1971
Field goal attempts	34
Free throws made, none missed	13—13	vs. San Diego Rockets	01971-02-19-0000February 19, 1971
Free throws made, one missed	15—16	at Milwaukee Bucks	01972-02-12-0000February 12, 1972
Free throws made	16	at Seattle SuperSonics	01967-12-31-0000December 31, 1967
Free throw attempts	22	at Philadelphia 76ers	01971-01-05-0000January 5, 1971
Free throw attempts	22	vs. Boston Celtics	01973-02-17-0000February 17, 1973
Rebounds	42	vs. Detroit Pistons	01965-11-09-0000November 9, 1965
Rebounds	37	vs. Baltimore Bullets	01964-10-27-0000October 27, 1964
Rebounds	37	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	01966-12-20-0000December 20, 1966
Rebounds, half	24	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	01966-12-20-0000December 20, 1966
Rebounds, quarter	18	at Baltimore Bullets	01965-02-28-0000February 28, 1965
Assists	13
Blocked shots	12	vs. Atlanta Hawks	01974-10-18-0000October 18, 1974
Blocked shots	8	vs. Portland Trail Blazers	01974-12-03-0000December 3, 1974
Minutes played	63 (3 OT)	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	01969-02-02-0000February 2, 1969

Playoffs

Stat	High	Opponent	Date
Points	32	at Milwaukee Bucks	01972-03-30-0000March 30, 1972
Field goal percentage
Field goals made	13
Field goal attempts	29
Free throw attempts, none made	0—3	at Los Angeles Lakers	01969-04-04-0000April 4, 1969
Free throws made	9	vs. Boston Celtics	01964-04-24-0000April 24, 1964
Free throw attempts	11	four	times
Rebounds	31	at Philadelphia 76ers	01967-04-14-0000April 14, 1967
Assists	9
Blocked shots	6	vs. Boston Celtics	01976-05-14-0000May 14, 1976

NBA records

Regular season

First player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double in a game: Chicago Bulls (120) vs. Atlanta Hawks (115), 01974-10-18-0000October 18, 1974 (OT)

• 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocked shots in 45 minutes
• The game was the first of the 1974–75 season, as well as Thurmond's debut with the Chicago Bulls.
• Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson are the only other players to achieve this.

One of five players in NBA history to average at least 15 rebounds per game for his career: 15.0 (14,464/964)

• Also done by Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bob Pettit and Jerry Lucas

One of five players in NBA history to average at least 20 rebounds per game during a season: 21.3 (1966–67), 22.0 (1967–68)

• Also achieved by Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit and Jerry Lucas

One of four players in NBA history to record 40 or more rebounds in a game: 42, vs. Detroit Pistons, 01965-11-09-0000November 9, 1965

• Also achieved by Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry Lucas

Rebounds, quarter: 18, at Baltimore Bullets, 01965-02-28-0000February 28, 1965

Playoffs

Recording 20 or more rebounds in all games of a playoff series: 6 games, vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 1967 NBA Finals

• Wilt Chamberlain achieved this for the opposing team, Philadelphia 76ers, in the same series.

NBA Finals

Recording 20 or more rebounds in all games of a championship series: 6 games, vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 1967 NBA Finals

• Wilt Chamberlain achieved this for the opposing team, Philadelphia 76ers, in the same series.
• Also achieved by Bill Russell thrice (1959, 1961, 1962) and Wilt Chamberlain twice (1964, 1967).

See also

• Quadruple-double
• List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders
• List of National Basketball Association players with most rebounds in a game
• List of National Basketball Association players with most blocks in a game
• List of National Basketball Association top individual rebounding season averages
• Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame

References

Further reading

• Heisler, Mark (2003). Giants: The 25 Greatest Centers of All Time. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-577-1. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nate Thurmond.

• Hall of Fame profile
• Hoopedia bio
• NBA profile

National Basketball Association's 50 Greatest Players in NBA History Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Nate Archibald Paul Arizin Charles Barkley Rick Barry Elgin Baylor Dave Bing Larry Bird Wilt Chamberlain Bob Cousy Dave Cowens Billy Cunningham Dave DeBusschere Clyde Drexler Julius Erving Patrick Ewing Walt Frazier George Gervin Hal Greer John Havlicek Elvin Hayes Magic Johnson Sam Jones Michael Jordan Jerry Lucas Karl Malone Moses Malone Pete Maravich Kevin McHale George Mikan Earl Monroe Hakeem Olajuwon Shaquille O'Neal Robert Parish Bob Pettit Scottie Pippen Willis Reed Oscar Robertson David Robinson Bill Russell Dolph Schayes Bill Sharman John Stockton Isiah Thomas Nate Thurmond Wes Unseld Bill Walton Jerry West Lenny Wilkens James Worthy

1963 NBA Draft Territorial pick Tom Thacker First round Art Heyman Rod Thorn Nate Thurmond Eddie Miles Gerry Ward Tom Hoover Roger Strickland Bill Green Second round Jerry Harkness Gus Johnson Gary Hill Jerry Smith Jim King Leland Mitchell Hershell West Mel Gibson Ken Saylors

1963 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans First Team Ron Bonham Jerry Harkness Art Heyman Barry Kramer Tom Thacker Second Team Gary Bradds Bill Green Cotton Nash Rod Thorn Nate Thurmond

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1985 Players Al Cervi Nate Thurmond Coaches Harold Anderson Marv Harshman Bertha Teague Margaret Wade Contributors Senda Berenson Abbott

Golden State Warriors Formerly the Philadelphia Warriors and the San Francisco Warriors Founded in 1946 Based in Oakland, California The franchise Franchise Team History All-Time roster Seasons Head coaches Current season Arenas Philadelphia Arena Philadelphia Convention Hall Cow Palace San Francisco Civic Auditorium USF War Memorial Gymnasium San Jose Arena Oracle Arena New San Francisco Arena General managers Tyrell Gottlieb Feerick Vertlieb Sterling Attles Nelson Twardzik St. Jean Mullin Riley Myers D-League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors Retired numbers 13 14 16 17 24 42 Hall of Famers Paul Arizin Rick Barry Wilt Chamberlain Joe Fulks Tom Gola Neil Johnston Jerry Lucas Chris Mullin Mitch Richmond Don Nelson Robert Parish Andy Phillip Ralph Sampson Nate Thurmond Jamaal Wilkes NBA Championships (3) 1947 1956 1975 Conference Championships (6) 1947 1948 1956 1964 1967 1975 Culture Wilt the Stilt 100 point game Nate the Great Run TMC We Believe The Sleepy Floyd game 1997 choking incident Splash Brothers Media TV Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Radio KNBR/KTCT Announcers Bob Fitzgerald Jim Barnett Tim Roye

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Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Based in Springfield, Massachusetts Members   Coaches (98) Alexeeva Allen Anderson Auerbach Auriemma Barmore Barry Blood Boeheim Brown Calhoun Calipari Cann Carlson Carnesecca Carnevale Carril Case Chancellor Chaney Conradt Crum Daly Dean Díaz-Miguel Diddle Drake Ferrándiz Gaines Gamba Gardner Gaze Gill Gomelsky Gunter Hannum Harshman Haskins Hatchell Heinsohn Hickey Hobson Holzman Hurley Iba Jackson Julian Keaney Keogan Knight Krzyzewski Kundla Lambert Leonard Lewis Litwack Loeffler Lonborg Magee McCutchan A. McGuire F. McGuire Meanwell Meyer Miller Moore Nelson Nikolić Novosel Olson Pitino Ramsay Richardson Riley Rubini Rupp Rush Sachs Sharman Shelton Sloan Smith Stringer Summitt Tarkanian Taylor Teague Thompson VanDerveer Wade Watts Wilkens G. Williams R. Williams Wooden Woolpert Wootten Yow Boldface indicates those who are also inducted as players   Contributors (66) Abbott Barksdale Bee Biasone H. Brown W. Brown Bunn Buss Clifton Colangelo Cooper Davidson Douglas Duer Embry Fagan Fisher Fleisher Gavitt Gottlieb Granik Gulick Harrison Hearn Henderson Hepp Hickox Hinkle Irish Jones Kennedy Knight Lemon Liston Lloyd McLendon Mokray Morgan Morgenweck Naismith Newell Newton J. O'Brien L. O'Brien Olsen Podoloff Porter Raveling Reid Ripley Sanders Saperstein Schabinger St. John Stagg Stanković Steitz Stern Taylor Tower Trester Vitale Wells Wilke Winter Zollner   Players (168) Guards Archibald Beckman Belov Bing Blazejowski Borgmann Brennan Cervi Cooper-Dyke Cousy Dampier Davies Drexler Dumars Edwards Frazier Friedman Gervin Goodrich Greer Guerin Hanson Haynes Holman Hyatt Isaacs Jeannette D. Johnson E. Johnson K. Jones S. Jones Jordan Lieberman Maravich Marcari Marčiulionis Martin McDermott McGuire Meyers R. Miller Monroe Murphy Page Payton Petrović Phillip Richmond Robertson Rodgers Roosma Russell Schommer Sedran Sharman Staley Steinmetz Stockton Thomas Thompson Vandivier Wanzer West White Wilkens Woodard Wooden Forwards Arizin Barkley Barry Baylor Bird Bradley R. Brown Cunningham Curry Dalipagić Dantley DeBusschere Dehnert Endacott English Erving Foster Fulks Gale Gates Gola Hagan Havlicek Hawkins Hayes Haywood Heinsohn Howell G. Johnson King Lucas Luisetti K. Malone McClain B. McCracken J. McCracken McHale Mikkelsen C. Miller Mullin Pettit Pippen Pollard Ramsey Rodman Schayes E. Schmidt O. Schmidt Stokes Thompson Twyman Walker White Wilkes Wilkins Worthy Yardley Centers Abdul-Jabbar Barlow Bellamy Chamberlain Ćosić Cowens Crawford Daniels DeBernardi Donovan Ewing Gallatin Gilmore Gruenig Harris-Stewart Houbregs Issel W. Johnson Johnston Krause Kurland Lanier Leslie Lovellette Lapchick Macauley M. Malone McAdoo Meneghin Mikan Mourning Murphy Mutombo Olajuwon Parish Pereira Reed Risen Robinson Russell Sabonis Sampson Semjonova Thurmond Unseld Wachter Walton Boldface indicates those who are also inducted as coaches   Referees (15) Bavetta Enright Hepbron Hoyt Kennedy Leith Mihalik Nichols Nucatola Quigley Rudolph Shirley Strom Tobey Walsh   Teams (10) 1960 United States Olympic Team 1992 United States Olympic Team All American Red Heads Buffalo Germans The First Team Harlem Globetrotters Immaculata College New York Renaissance Original Celtics Texas Western Awards Bob Cousy Award Curt Gowdy Media Award John Bunn Award Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award Official website