Legendary Warrior Nate Thurmond died today at the age of 74, after recently being diagnosed with leukemia, NBA.com reports. The seven-time All Star played during the 60's and 70's, and was known as an ambassador to the Warriors, a community man, and a gentle soul."He plays me better than anybody ever has," Abdul-Jabbar once told Basketball Digest of Thurmond. "He's tall, has real long arms, and most of all he's agile and strong."Warriors owner Joe Lacob issued the following statement after getting word of Thurmond's passing:Nate represented this franchise with class, dignity and humility as both a player and community relations ambassador for over 40 years. Without a doubt, he is one of the most beloved figures to ever wear a Warriors uniform and both a Hall of Fame player and Hall of Fame person, hence his No. 42 jersey hanging from the rafters at Oracle Arena. On behalf of the entire Warriors organization, our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family, including his wife, Marci. We'll miss his presence in his customary seats at our games next season, but his legacy will live forever.While Thurmond played most of his time in Oakland and San Francisco, the Akron, Ohio native was also the only player to have his number 42 retired by both teams in this year's finals, Cleveland and Golden State. Throughout his time in the NBA—including a 15-month stint with the Bulls—Thurmond dominated as one of the NBA's best big men in his time, averaging 15 points and 15 rebounds per game. In 1996, he was even named to the top 50 players of all time list.Thurmond is survived by his wife Marci.
We are saddened by the passing of a true Warriors Legend. Rest in Peace, Nate Thurmond. pic.twitter.com/4JT9aftJlg
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) July 16, 2016
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