photo via Carolyn Tyler
The NBA and the Warriors laid rest to a basketball legend on Monday, saying their final good byes to Nate Thurmond at his funeral.
Steve Kerr and several members of the organization were in attendance.
“Very sad,” Kerr said of emotions to Tolbert and Lund on KNBR 680 last week. “Nate was around quite a bit at our games. We invited him last year to address the team. He came with Tom Meschery and Al Attles and the three of them kind of regaled our guys with stories. It was really fun to have him around. He’s just a wonderful guy and obviously a great player.”
A seven-time All-Star, Thurmond was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in 1963 and played 11 seasons for the franchise.Thurmond was best known for his rebounding, where his 14,464 boards check in for 10th all-time in NBA history, just a notch behind Kevin Garnett. He’s one of only five players to average 15 rebounds throughout his entire career. Thurmond was also known as a staunch defender, often shutting down the likes of Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabar.
“You look at his career, his number was retired in Cleveland and here in Golden State. (He’s) a Hall of Famer, top 50. Just an amazing player. Huge impact on our organization,” Kerr said.
It was his contributions off the court that continued to grow after he retired in 1977. Thurmond settled in the Bay Area permanently, opening up a restaurant called Big Nate’s BBQ and also became a fashion icon in an already trendsetting city. Thurmond always kept up with his Golden State Warriors and had become increasingly visible over the last few seasons. He also had a classy way about carrying himself, which is what Kerr will remember most.
“(Warriors Vice President of Public Relations) Raymond Ridder told me that Nate actually called him last week and basically called him to thank him,” Kerr said. “For all the work and favors Raymond had done for him over the years, you know with tickets, and such. And Nate knew his time was near, and he took the time to call Raymond to thank him. I thought that was just incredible. Raymond told me that story and it’s one of those things that bring tears to your eyes. Man, what a classy man.
“Seventy-four, that’s not that old. It happened too early.”
Thurmond quietly battled leukemia for many months. He would’ve turned 75 on Monday.