Nathaniel "Nate" Thurmond (July 25, 1941 – July 16, 2016) was an American basketball player who spent the majority of his 14-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Golden State Warriors. He played the center and power forward positions. Thurmond was a seven-time All-Star and the first player in NBA history to record an official quadruple-double. In 1965, he grabbed 42 rebounds in a game; only Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell recorded more rebounds in an NBA game. Thurmond was named both a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Known to fans as "Nate the Great", Thurmond has had his No. 42 jersey retired by both the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

High school and college career

Thurmond starred at Akron's Central-Hower High School, where he played alongside fellow future NBA star Gus Johnson. Passing up a scholarship offer from Ohio State to avoid becoming a backup to Jerry Lucas, a high school rival, Thurmond chose to play college basketball at Bowling Green. He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News in 1963.

NBA career

Thurmond was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in the 1963 NBA draft. With the Warriors, Thurmond was an aggressive rebounder-defender who played at power forward alongside superstar Wilt Chamberlain, or served as Chamberlain's backup at center. Despite playing on the same team as the dominant Chamberlain, Thurmond made an impact and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1964.

When Chamberlain was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Thurmond became the All-Star starting center Chamberlain said he could be. Among his many accomplishments, Thurmond still holds the regular season record for rebounds in a quarter with 18. He averaged 21.3 and 22.0 rebounds per game in the 1966–67 and 1967–68 seasons — season averages exceeded by only Bill Russell and Chamberlain in NBA history. Thurmond placed second to Chamberlain in the MVP balloting in the 1966–67 season, and averaged over 20 points per game each season from 1967–68 through 1971–72, and played in seven NBA All-Star Games as a member of the Warriors. However, while star players like Rick Barry and Jerry Lucas came and went, the Warriors were unable to win a championship with Thurmond at center, often failing to get past the star studded Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Division playoffs.

Thurmond was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Clifford Ray prior to the 1974–75 season. On October 18, 1974 against the Atlanta Hawks, in his debut as a Bull, he recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocked shots, becoming the first player in NBA history to officially record a quadruple-double (blocked shots were not counted before 1973–74).

Thurmond was then traded to Cleveland Cavaliers 13 games into the following season. In Cleveland, the now 35-year-old Thurmond came off the bench for the injured Jim Chones to lead Cleveland's "Miracle at Richfield" team to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals before the Cavaliers lost to the star-studded Boston Celtics in 1976.

Retirement and death

After retirement, Thurmond returned to San Francisco and opened a restaurant, Big Nate's BBQ, after a brief attempt at broadcasting. He sold the restaurant after 20 years, while living in San Francisco with his wife, Marci. He was given the title "Warriors Legend & Ambassador" by the Warriors organization.

Thurmond died at the age of 74 on July 16, 2016 after a short battle with leukemia.

Statistical accomplishments

First player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double in a game: Chicago Bulls (120) vs. Atlanta Hawks (115), October 18, 1974 (OT)

• 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocked shots
• The game was Thurmond's debut with the Chicago Bulls.
• Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson are the only other players to achieve a quadruple-double.

One of five players in NBA history to average at least 15 rebounds per game for his career: 15.0 (14,464/964)

• Also done by Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Bob Pettit and Jerry Lucas

One of five players in NBA history to average at least 20 rebounds per game during a season: 21.3 (1966–67), 22.0 (1967–68)

• Also achieved by Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Pettit and Jerry Lucas

One of four players in NBA history to record 40 or more rebounds in a game: 42, vs. Detroit Pistons, November 9, 1965

• Also achieved by Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry Lucas

Rebounds, quarter: 18, at Baltimore Bullets, February 28, 1965