Nate Thurmond facts for kids
Thurmond with the Warriors in 1969
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 25, 1941 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 2016 (aged 74) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| High school | Central (Akron, Ohio) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Bowling Green (1960–1963) |
| NBA Draft | 1963 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the San Francisco Warriors | |
| Pro career | 1963–1977 |
| Career history | |
| 1963–1974 | San Francisco / Golden State Warriors |
| 1974–1975 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1975–1977 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 14,437 (15.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 14,464 (15.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,575 (2.7 apg) |
Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond (born July 25, 1941 – died July 16, 2016) was an American basketball player. He spent most of his 14-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Golden State Warriors. Nate played as a center and power forward.
Thurmond was chosen for the All-Star team seven times. He was also the first player in NBA history to get an official quadruple-double. This means he reached double-digits in four different stats in one game. In 1965, he grabbed 42 rebounds in a single game. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell have recorded more rebounds in an NBA game. Nate Thurmond was added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Fans called him "Nate the Great". His jersey number, 42, was retired by both the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. This means no other player on those teams can wear that number.
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High School and College Basketball
Nate Thurmond started his basketball journey at Central High School in Akron, Ohio. He played there with another future NBA star, Gus Johnson. Nate decided to play college basketball at Bowling Green. He turned down an offer from Ohio State because he didn't want to be a backup to Jerry Lucas, who was a rival from high school.
At Bowling Green, Thurmond led the Mid-American Conference in rebounds for all three of his main seasons. He averaged 17.0 rebounds per game during his college career. In 1963, The Sporting News named him a first-team All-American. In his last two years, Thurmond helped Bowling Green reach the NCAA Tournament. He also set a school record with 31 rebounds in his final college game.
NBA Career Highlights
Playing for the Warriors
The San Francisco Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors) picked Nate Thurmond as the 3rd overall player in the 1963 NBA draft. In his first year, he mostly supported Wilt Chamberlain, another famous center. Thurmond averaged 7 points and 10.4 rebounds. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1964.
After Chamberlain was traded, Thurmond became the main center for the Warriors. He became a very strong player. He set a record for rebounds in one quarter with 18. He also averaged over 21 rebounds per game in the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons. Thurmond was second in voting for the MVP in the 1966–67 season. From 1967–68 to 1971–72, he scored over 20 points per game. He played in seven NBA All-Star Games as a Warrior.
Thurmond was also known as a tough defender. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said Thurmond was the hardest defender he ever played against. Even with great teammates like Rick Barry, the Warriors could not win a championship. They reached the 1967 NBA Finals but lost to Chamberlain's team.
Time with the Chicago Bulls
Before the 1974–75 season, the Chicago Bulls got Nate Thurmond. He was 33 years old at the time. On October 18, 1974, in his first game with the Bulls against the Atlanta Hawks, he made history. He scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, made 13 assists, and had 12 blocked shots. This made him the first player in NBA history to officially get a quadruple-double. Blocked shots were not officially counted before 1973.
Joining the Cleveland Cavaliers
Thirteen games into the 1975–76 season, Thurmond was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was 35 years old and came off the bench to help the team. He played a key role in Cleveland's "Miracle at Richfield" season. The Cavaliers reached the NBA Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics in 1976.
Thurmond played a smaller role in his final years. He retired at the end of the 1976–77 season.
Life After Basketball
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After retiring from basketball, Nate Thurmond went back to San Francisco. He opened a restaurant called Big Nate's BBQ. He sold the restaurant after 20 years. He lived in San Francisco with his wife, Marci. Today, the Chase Center, where the Golden State Warriors play, has a Big Nate's BBQ stand. It serves dishes that honor his career.
The Warriors team also gave him the title "Warriors Legend & Ambassador."
Nate Thurmond passed away on July 16, 2016, just nine days before his 75th birthday. He had been battling leukemia. During the 2016–17 season, the Warriors honored Thurmond by putting his number on their jerseys.
Amazing Records and Stats
Nate Thurmond achieved some incredible things in the NBA:
- He was the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double. This happened on October 18, 1974, with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocked shots. Only three other players have done this since.
- He is one of only five players in NBA history to average at least 15 rebounds per game for his entire career.
- He is one of only five players to average at least 20 rebounds per game during a season. He did this twice!
- He is one of only four players in NBA history to grab 40 or more rebounds in a single game. He had 42 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on November 9, 1965.
- He holds the NBA regular season record for most rebounds in a single quarter with 18.
