– Nate Thumond, who was one of the most popular players in the history of the Golden State Warriors, passed away Saturday.
Advertisement
The Warriors made Thurmond the No. 3 overall pick in the 1963 draft after he spent his collegiate career at Bowling Green.
Download the Cleveland 19 News app.
The Warriors website posted a statement from owner, Joe Lacob. He was named to seven All-Star teams, including four straight from 1965 to 1968, the All-Defensive first team twice and the NBA’s 50th anniversary all-time team in 1996.
“We’ve lost one of the most iconic figures in the history of not only our organization, but the National Basketball Association in general, with the passing of Nate Thurmond”, said Warriors owner, Joe Jacob. His Warriors jersey #42 was retired on March 8, 1978, one of six players to have his number retired by the Warriors along with Alvin Attles (#16), Rick Barry (#24), Wilt Chamberlain (#13), Tom Meschery (#14) and Chris Mullin (#17).
“Thoughts and prayers go out to his family, ” Melvin said. We’ll miss his presence in his customary seats at our games next season, but his legacy will live on forever. He averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds a game during his career and was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1985. He played 11 of his 14 seasons with the Warriors, and then worked as a community liaison and broadcast analyst.
Besides the Warriors, he also played for the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he helped lead the team to a Eastern Conference Finals berth at the age of 35 in the 1976-77 season.
Advertisement
Thurmond played 11 of his 14 seasons with the Warriors and retired after the 1976-1977 season, one year after leading the “Miracle” Cavaliers to an improbable trip to the National Basketball Association finals. Just as Nate always held the Miracle team, the Coliseum crowds and his local roots dear to him, the Cavaliers franchise will always love and respect him as a true Cavalier legend.
