Bio

Playing in an era that featured Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell wasn't necessarily easy for Nate Thurmond. Naturally, the comparisons would abound, and Thurmond was more than equal to the challenge. There are critics who suggest that the six-foot-eleven center provided the best mix of offense and defense in history. Many say that his defense was better than Chamberlain's and his offense was better than Russell's. With quickness and long hands, a smooth outside shooting touch, tenacious rebounding, classic shot blocking ability and a total team attitude, Thurmond offered a perfectly balanced package. The agile and deceptively strong Thurmond honed his talents at Bowling Green State University, where he averaged 17.8 ppg and 17.0 rpg and was selected an All-America his senior year.

In 1963, Thurmond was drafted third in the NBA draft by the San Francisco Warriors and played the forward position because Wilt Chamberlain was the Warriors' pivot man. When San Francisco traded Chamberlain to Philadelphia in 1965, Thurmond returned to his natural position and developed into one of the NBA's truly dominant centers. Thurmond logged 14 NBA seasons with San Francisco, Golden State, Chicago and Cleveland. He was selected to play in seven All-Star Games and was named NBA All-Defensive First Team twice and Second Team three times. He first made NBA history when he grabbed 18 rebounds in one quarter against Baltimore in 1965. Then on opening night in 1974, Nate made history again as the first player to ever record a quadruple double-double figures in four categories in one game (22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots). When he retired, Thurmond had scored 14,437 points and grabbed 14,464 rebounds (sixth all-time), both 15.0 per game averages.

High School

• Central High School (Akron, OH) (1955-59)

High School Playing Highlights

• Honorable mention, All-State (1959)
• Third-Team All-American (1959)

College

• Bowling Green State University (1959-63)

College Playing Highlights

• Three-year letter winner (1960-63) under Hall of Fame coach Harold Anderson
• The Sporting News First Team All-America (1963)
• Consensus All-America by UPI (1963)
• Scored 1,356 points (17.8 ppg) in 76 games
• Grabbed 1,295 rebounds (17.0 rpg) in 76 games
• Led BGSU to the NCAA Tournament (1962, 1963)
• Led BGSU to MAC Championship (1962, 1963)
• All-MAC First Team (1961, 1962, 1963)
• BGSU MVP (1961, 1962, 1963)
• NABC All-District Second Team (1962, 1963)
• Led BGSU to the All-College Tournament championship, 47-45 over Houston (1962)
• Holds BGSU record for most rebounds in a career (1,295), season (452, 16.7 ppg in 1962-63) and game (31 vs. Mississippi State on March 16, 1963)
• Ranks second in NCAA Tournament play for most rebounds in one game (31 vs. Mississippi State on March 16, 1963)
• Led BGSU in scoring as a sophomore (427 points, 17.8 ppg)
• Enshrined in BGSU Hall of Fame (1975)

Pro

• NBA San Francisco Warriors (1963-71)
• NBA Golden State Warriors (1971-74)
• NBA Chicago Bulls (1974-75)
• NBA Cleveland Cavaliers (1976-77)

Pro Playing Highlights

• NBA All-Rookie Team (1964)
• NBA All-Defensive First Team (1969, 1971)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972-74)
• Seven-time NBA All-Star (1965-69, 1970, 1973, 1974)
• Scored 14,437 points (15.0 ppg) in 964 games
• Grabbed 14,464 rebounds (15.0) in 964 games, seventh best in history
• Upon enshrinement, his 14,464 boards were fourth best in history
• Had eight seasons with 1,000 or more rebounds (1965-69, 1971-73), including a career-best 22.0 rpg in 1968
• Holds the NBA record for most rebounds in one quarter (18 vs. Baltimore on Feb. 28, 1965)
• Warriors leading rebounder (12,771)
• Grabbed a career-high 42 rebounds against Detroit (Nov. 9, 1965), making him one of only four players in history (Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas) to achieve that feat
• First player to record a quadruple-double (1974) with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots in an overtime victory against the Atlanta Hawks
• Holds record for most rebounds in a quarter (18 on Feb. 28, 1965)
• NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996)