This day in Golden State Warriors history: Nate Thurmond Unleashed

On this day in Warriors history, Nate Thurmond put in a 30-30 performance that included grabbing 18 rebounds in one quarter.

If you were to pick generation-defining players from each era, the no-brainer choices for the 1960’s are Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain of the San Francisco/Philadelphia Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and L.A. Lakers. However, I believe there is a man, who you should already know by the way, that could reasonably join, or even usurp, them for this throne.

Let’s put it like this: if Wilt and Russell took turns being Black Panther, then Warriors’ legend Nate Thurmond would be Erik Killmonger. Do I have your attention now?

While African-American history is something to celebrate 365 days a year (366 if you’re feeling froggy), Black History Month has always served as a platform to shine a spotlight on these achievements.

A ferocious defender and one of the toughest players of all-time, Nate Thurmond managed to make a name for himself at a time when players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Petit, Elvin Hayes, Bill Walton, Willis Reed (pictured above), Wes Unseld, Walt Bellamy and the aforementioned legends roamed the paint. If you don’t know some of those names, I suggest you get real acquainted real quick because they were doing things back then that today’s big men can’t even do on NBA 2K18.

At 6-11, 235 lb., Thurmond finished his 15-season (1963-1977) career with averages of 15 PPG, 15 RPG (one of five players to ever do this) and *2.1 BPG (the asterisk is for the fact that they didn’t keep blocks as a stat until 1973-74, robbing guys like him of true, measurable defensive immortality).

Pop quiz (because you never stop learning, right?): Who recorded the first official quadruple-double in NBA history in October 18, 1974 at the age of 33 with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks in his Chicago Bulls debut? Guys…listen, I know MJ is great but he’s not a time-traveler so, no, it’s not him. Still need a hint? Go back and revisit the thumbnail of this article; yeah, Thurmond was that dude.

If for no other reason than that, although I hope you leave this page with a few more, you have to acknowledge that we can’t end the month without talking about this great. In doing so, it seems fitting that we focus on one of his most historic achievements: his monstrous rebounding quarter vs. the Baltimore Bullets on this day in 1965, a feat that still stands in the history books to this day.

Warriors legend Nate Thurmond (Photo by Vernon Biever/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Allow me to set the scene: The then-San Francisco Warriors (14-54) enter the game in the midst of a seven-game losing streak while the then-Baltimore Bullets, now Washington Wizards, (30-37) march into the battle carrying a 6-10 record in the month of February. The setting was the Baltimore Civic Center, now the Royal Farms Arena, and both teams sought to end the month on a high note.

In a game filled with future Hall of Famers such as Bellamy, Gus Johnson and Bailey Howell for the Bullets and Guy Rodgers, Al Attles (one day soon, Big Al) and, of course, Thurmond for the Warriors, it was a wire-to-wire barn-burner that went into overtime. The Bullets won the contest 129-116 (a score teams reach in one half these days) and the stat sheet, while not all the way complete, shows us plenty of the damages.

For San Francisco, Thurmond went off, scoring 30 points and grabbing 32 rebounds, 18 of which he secured in one quarter. I would also like to point out that Thurmond did all of this in only his second season out of Bowling Green. Based on this game and other like it, Thurmond was a dominant inside presence, but he was in a position similar to New Orleans’ Anthony Davis pre-Boogie Cousins: beast mode numbers with no consistent second fiddle to make a beautiful music with. And, unfortunately for Thurmond, this was a rough season that saw the Warriors on the wrong end of the W-L column.

He finished his 1964-65 season with 16.5 PPG and 18 RPG in 77 games. He also earned the first of his seven All-Star game selections that season. He made six playoff appearances with the Warriors in his career, one of which came a year earlier when he was teammates with none other than “Wilt the Stilt.”

Yes, in a bit of a “What If” scenario best saved for another time, Chamberlain actually formed a lethal frontcourt with a rookie Thurmond for the 1963-64 season before being traded after the season. Is it a coincidence that Thurmond would go on to become a force after Wilt’s departure or a sign that the tandem, which was a part of Thurmond’s only NBA Finals run, was broken up too soon before winning a championship or five? Just something else captivating to ponder…

Despite never winning a ring, though, the shiny Hall of Fame plaque he was awarded in 1985 more than illustrates Thurmond’s impact on the game.

Also, remember all those legends I mentioned above? Yeah, well Thurmond ended his career with a piece of each of them in his pocket because he guarded them all very well, including Wilt. Don’t believe me? Here are some of them talking about it here (via The New York Times):

"“The toughest center for me to play against is Nate Thurmond,” Abdul-Jabbar once remarked.…“He played with unbelievable intensity and was simply a man among boys on most nights, especially on the defensive end,” Jerry West"

And here:

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Yes, unfortunately, as both the article and video showed you, Thurmond left us on July 16, 2016, which makes it even more imperative that we discuss his legacy.

For NBA fans, this month serves as a time to pay homage to the heroes of the bygone era of black and white film and TV. I remember seeing so much footage of Wilt and Russell as a kid that I used to think that’s how the world looked back then. However, the funny thing for this fan was that the man giving both those giants fits, when it wasn’t each other, was Thurmond, a very incredible sight to see.

It goes without saying that what those titans, along with Kareem and several others, did for the game of basketball will never be challenged or changed, a fact we are reminded of when the age-old “best NBA center ever” debate pops up.

Next: Top 20 Draft Picks in Warriors History

Nevertheless, Thurmond also represents a pioneer that should never be overlooked, and it should go without saying that he should have a seat at this table too. He more than deserves it.

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