NBA great Nate Thurmond, Hall of Fame center, dies at 74
SAN FRANCISCO — Nate Thurmond, a Hall of Fame center and longtime Golden State Warrior, died Saturday after a short battle with leukemia. He was 74.
The Golden State Warriors announced his death.
In 1996, Thurmond was voted as one of the best 50 players in NBA history and is considered among the most-dominating centers in the game.
The 6-foot, 11-inch Thurmond spent almost 40 years playing and working for the Warriors. He played 11 of his 14 seasons with the Warriors, and then worked as a community liaison and broadcast analyst. He holds the franchise’s record for rebounds and minutes played.
He was a seven-time all-star.
The Warriors retired his number 42 in 1978.
The Warriors drafted Thurmond out of Bowling Green with the third overall pick in 1963.
FILE – In this March 30, 1973, file photo, Nate Thurmond of the Golden State Warriors (42) looks back at Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Milwaukee Bucks before making his move toward the basket during NBA playoff action at Milwaukee, Wis. Thurmond, a Hall of Fame center and longtime Golden State Warrior, died Saturday, July 16, 2016, after a short battle with leukemia, the team announced. He was 74. (AP Photo/File)
FILE – In this March 19, 2012, file photo, former Golden State Warriors player Nate Thurmond waves during a halftime ceremony if an NBA basketball game between the Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Oakland, Calif. Thurmond, a Hall of Fame center and longtime Golden State Warrior, died Saturday, July 16, 2016, after a short battle with leukemia, the team announced. He was 74. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
FILE – In this May 22, 2012, file photo, Golden State Warriors great Nate Thurmond waves during an announcement in San Francisco, that the NBA basketball team wants to return to San Francisco. Thurmond, a Hall of Fame center and longtime Golden State Warrior, died Saturday, July 16, 2016, after a short battle with leukemia, the team announced. He was 74. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)