by Charlie O. Mallonee

One of the NBA’s 50 greatest players and a member of the Hall of Fame – Nate Thurmond – has passed away at age 74 after a battle with leukemia. Thurmond played for San Francisco/Golden State, Chicago and Cleveland but is most identified as member of the Warriors for whom he played 11 seasons.

“Nate was one of the greatest centers to ever play the game and I was privileged to call him a teammate and dear friend. He battled his illness until the very end, like a true Warrior. His legacy is one of passion, fierce competitiveness, a love of basketball and selfless devotion to others. My heartfelt prayers go out to his family, friends and fans,” said Thurmond’s former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Rick Barry.

Thurmond will always be remembered for his epic battles with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “He (Thurmond) plays me better than anybody ever has,” Abdul-Jabbar told Basketball Digest. “He’s tall, has real long arms and most of all he’s agile and strong.”

Thurmond averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds per game for his career in the NBA. He was a seven-time All-Star, named to the All-Defensive Team five times and became one of five players in NBA history to post a quadruple-double in a game.

Thurmond closed out his NBA career in Cleveland just miles from his hometown of Akron. At 35-years old, he helped lead the Cavs to the Eastern Conference Finals where they ultimately lost to the Boston Celtics.

Thurmond has the rare honor of having his number retired by two teams. His number 42 was retired by the Golden State Warriors as you might expect. Thurmond was also honored by the Cleveland Cavaliers by having his number 42 hung from the rafters in Ohio.

“Damn man!!!R.I.P. Akron’s own Nate Thurmond. Knowing u played in the same rec league as me growing up gave me hope of making it out! Thanks!” LeBron James on Twitter Saturday.

After his basketball days were over, Thurmond returned to “the City” where he became a man about town always known for his friendly demeanor and impeccable wardrobe. The words “gentle” and “gentleman” were used about Thurmond frequently and truthfully.

Thurmond also went on to enjoy a very successful career as a restaurateur with his famous barbecue restaurant in San Francisco.

On a personal note, I had the privilege of seeing Nate Thurmond play for the Warriors in person in the early 70’s. The excitement and commitment he brought to the game is one of the reasons am still a NBA fan today.

Nate Thurmond will be missed by his family, teammates, opponents and many, many fans. Rest in peace Nate.