High school

He played in high school with another future NBA star, Gus Johnson, at Akron Central. Their powerful team went undefeated before losing to Middletown, led by Jerry Lucas, in the Ohio state high school playoffs.

College

Passing on a scholarship offer to Ohio State, to avoid becoming Lucas's backup there, the 6'11" Thurmond chose Bowling Green. He was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News in 1963, and was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors later that year.

NBA

Golden State/San Francisco Warriors

In 1963, he was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors later that year. With the Warriors, Thurmond was an aggressive rebounder-defender who played at the forward position opposite superstar Wilt Chamberlain or was his 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 while with 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 an excellent passing center and was well known as the best screen setter in the league for many years.

Chicago Bulls

He 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).

Cleveland Cavaliers

He 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 to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals before the Cavaliers lost to the star-studded Boston Celtics in 1976.

After retirement

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, and currently lives in San Francisco with his wife, Marci. He has been given the title "Warriors Legend & Ambassador" by the Warriors organization.

NBA statistics

Career highs

Regular season

Stat	High	Opponent	Date
Points	43	at Detroit Pistons	000000001971-02-24-0000February 24, 1971
Points	42	at Detroit Pistons	000000001971-12-30-0000December 30, 1971
Field goal percentage
Field goals made	18	at Detroit Pistons	000000001971-02-24-0000February 24, 1971
Field goal attempts	34
Free throws made, none missed	13—13	vs. San Diego Rockets	000000001971-02-19-0000February 19, 1971
Free throws made, one missed	15—16	at Milwaukee Bucks	000000001972-02-12-0000February 12, 1972
Free throws made	16	at Seattle SuperSonics	000000001967-12-31-0000December 31, 1967
Free throw attempts	22	at Philadelphia 76ers	000000001971-01-05-0000January 5, 1971
Free throw attempts	22	vs. Boston Celtics	000000001973-02-17-0000February 17, 1973
Rebounds	42	vs. Detroit Pistons	000000001965-11-09-0000November 9, 1965
Rebounds	37	vs. Baltimore Bullets	000000001964-10-27-0000October 27, 1964
Rebounds	37	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	000000001966-12-20-0000December 20, 1966
Rebounds, half	24	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	000000001966-12-20-0000December 20, 1966
Rebounds, quarter	18	at Baltimore Bullets	000000001965-02-28-0000February 28, 1965
Assists	13
Blocked shots	12	vs. Atlanta Hawks	000000001974-10-18-0000October 18, 1974
Blocked shots	8	vs. Portland Trail Blazers	000000001974-12-03-0000December 3, 1974
Minutes played	63	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	000000001969-02-02-0000February 2, 1969

Playoffs

Stat	High	Opponent	Date
Points	32	at Milwaukee Bucks	000000001972-03-30-0000March 30, 1972
Field goal percentage
Field goals made	13
Field goal attempts	29
Free throw attempts, none made	0—3	at Los Angeles Lakers	000000001969-04-04-0000April 4, 1969
Free throws made	9	vs. Boston Celtics	000000001964-04-24-0000April 24, 1964
Free throw attempts	11	four	times
Rebounds	31	at Philadelphia 76ers	000000001967-04-14-0000April 14, 1967
Assists	9
Blocked shots	6	vs. Boston Celtics	000000001976-05-14-0000May 14, 1976

NBA records

Regular season

First player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double in a game: Chicago Bulls (120) vs. Atlanta Hawks (115), 000000001974-10-18-0000October 18, 1974 (OT)

• 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocked shots in 45 minutes
• The game was the first of the 1974-75 season, as well as Thurmond's debut with the Chicago Bulls.
• Alvin Robertson, Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson are the only other players to achieve this.

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, 000000001965-11-09-0000November 9, 1965

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

Rebounds, quarter: 18, at Baltimore Bullets, 000000001965-02-28-0000February 28, 1965

Playoffs

Recording 20 or more rebounds in all games of a playoff series: 6 games, vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 1967 NBA Finals

• Wilt Chamberlain achieved this for the opposing team, Philadelphia 76ers, in the same series.

NBA Finals

Recording 20 or more rebounds in all games of a championship series: 6 games, vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 1967 NBA Finals

• Wilt Chamberlain achieved this for the opposing team, Philadelphia 76ers, in the same series.
• Also achieved by Bill Russell thrice (1959, 1961, 1962) and Wilt Chamberlain twice (1964, 1967).

[ Source: Wikipedia ]