#42 Nate Thurmond 1941-2016

[2 For The Brew]

The first Cavalier to have his jersey retired by the Cavaliers lost his battle with leukemia today. Picked up early in the "Miracle at Richfield" season, he stepped into the starting role at age 34 and battled Dave Cowens through six games. I saw him block six shots in Game 4 when the Cavaliers wrecked the Celtics 106-87. Like LeBron and Steph, he was a native of Akron. In another irony, he played for the Warriors for most of his career.

 

[sportsintheland]

R.I.P. Nate the Great. Once a Cavalier always a Cavalier.

 

[PIP]

Sucks... Was wondering why he was at the Warriors parade and not the Cavs and it makes sense. :-/

 

[tocov]

Rest in Peace, legend.

 

[Daniel89]

Too young to have seen him play, but when I first heard of him, I saw the above photo... those veins, damn

 

[Phills14]

man that sucks... Thurmond was a GREAT player.

The 63-64 Warriors had Wilt Chamberlain averaging 37ppg and 22rpg in 46 minutes while rookie Thurmond (3rd overall pick in 1963) averaged 7ppg and 10rpg in 27 minutes. Could you imagine that team!

The next year they traded Wilt halfway through the season and Thurmond went on to average 16ppg and 18rpg for the season.

RIP Big Man!

 

[2 For The Brew]

man that sucks... Thurmond was a GREAT player.

The 63-64 Warriors had Wilt Chamberlain averaging 37ppg and 22rpg in 46 minutes while rookie Thurmond (3rd overall pick in 1963) averaged 7ppg and 10rpg in 27 minutes. Could you imagine that team!

The next year they traded Wilt halfway through the season and Thurmond went on to average 16ppg and 18rpg for the season.

RIP Big Man!

"Big" Nate played in the era when big men ruled the NBA liked they ruled boxing. He played against legends:

Russell. Wilt. Kareem. Reed. Lanier. Zelmo. Cowens. Dawkins. Unseld.

He may or may not have faces Moses and Gilmore in his last days as a Cavalier right after the ABA teams came in.

Without a three-point line and with the referees allowing more physical play than today, it was war in the pivot, especially at playoff time. Nate played a man's game - Kareem told BB Digest that nobody played him tougher. With all that, he was a kind, decent and gentle man off the court.

I hope that, before the championship flag is raised in October, the FIRST order of business will be honoring Nate at the Q. Lights off, moment of silence, spotlight on his banner. He deserves that.

 

[Simmy]

Being a little younger(ish) to fully know, I've always wondered the reasons behind Thurmond's Cavaliers jersey retirement given that he spent almost his whole career with the Warriors? Guessing because he was from Akron, a Hall of Famer and was an integral part of that Miracle of Richfield squad?

Could any older(ish)-heads provide some insight during that time?

RIP Nate The Great.

 

[TheLand1287]

RIP to not only a Cavs great, but the GOAT of my alma matter, BGSU.

 

[GreasySpread36]

Kareem always said that the man who guarded him the toughest was Nate Thurmond. RIP to the Akron native and the pride of old Akron Central High and Bowling Green.

 

[Phills14]

"Big" Nate played in the era when big men ruled the NBA liked they ruled boxing. He played against legends:

Russell. Wilt. Kareem. Reed. Lanier. Zelmo. Cowens. Dawkins. Unseld.

He may or may not have faces Moses and Gilmore in his last days as a Cavalier right after the ABA teams came in.

Without a three-point line and with the referees allowing more physical play than today, it was war in the pivot, especially at playoff time. Nate played a man's game - Kareem told BB Digest that nobody played him tougher. With all that, he was a kind, decent and gentle man off the court.

I hope that, before the championship flag is raised in October, the FIRST order of business will be honoring Nate at the Q. Lights off, moment of silence, spotlight on his banner. He deserves that.

You impressed me by pulling out Zelmo Beaty there but you lost me at Darryl Dawkins, clearly the odd man out on that list. Other impressive big men of the era were Walt Bellamy, Elvin Hayes, Bob McAdoo and Bob Pettit.

 

[2 For The Brew]

You impressed me by pulling out Zelmo Beaty there but you lost me at Darryl Dawkins, clearly the odd man out on that list. Other impressive big men of the era were Walt Bellamy, Elvin Hayes, Bob McAdoo and Bob Pettit.

DD clearly wasn't as good as the rest but he was a massive guy who was physically a load. He was a legend more for destroying backboards than basketball excellence, no question.

I left out Bellamy but he was a big load as well. The rest weren't really centers or physically intimidating big men.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Being a little younger(ish) to fully know, I've always wondered the reasons behind Thurmond's Cavaliers jersey retirement given that he spent almost his whole career with the Warriors? Guessing because he was from Akron, a Hall of Famer and was an integral part of that Miracle of Richfield squad?

Could any older(ish)-heads provide some insight during that time?

RIP Nate The Great.

Pretty much. At the time I didn't think his Cleveland career merited retiring his number, and while I love AC and Bingo they weren't really worthy of it either. With our current team if we use the same standards then within a few decades we will have to go triple digits or alphanumeric.

It was so depressing when Chones went down right after the incredibly exciting Washington series. Nate had to play Cowens, who was very good. He battled so hard that series, but it was just too much to have him play so many minutes, and he fouled out in Game 5 midway through the fourth quarter.

I've heard some Cleveland media people poke a little fun at the celebration of the Miracle at Richfield because it was "just a first round victory", but that's unfair. That Bullets team made more NBA Finals in the 70s than any other franchise and they had great players. The Celtics team that we lost to in six games won two titles in three years. Our team did not have one player that was considered an all-star as nobody average 16ppg. It was an unbelievable team effort and awesome defense that punched way above its head and had incredible heart. Nobody personified that more than Nate - in fact, the Cavaliers were WELL under .500 when we acquired Nate and his key backup center minutes turned around the whole trajectory of the franchise.

 

[MrX]

Very sad but you will never be forgotten

 

[Phills14]

DD clearly wasn't as good as the rest but he was a massive guy who was physically a load. He was a legend more for destroying backboards than basketball excellence, no question.

I left out Bellamy but he was a big load as well. The rest weren't really centers or physically intimidating big men.

Bells for sure. I see your point on the other 3 but make no mistake, all 3 played the center position in addition to the big forward. They just didn't have the body style that you describe with Wilt, Jabbar, Lanier, etc.. Thurmond was strong enough to battle the big boys and agile enough to stay with the combo guys like Pettit, Hayes and McAdoo.