Random Cavalier of the Week: Nate Thurmond

Taking a look back at a local legend.

We’ll be highlighting a random Cleveland Cavaliers player from the past every Monday for the remainder of the offseason. The first Cavalier we’re taking a look at is Hall-of-Famer and local legend Nate Thurmond.

Thurmond is one of seven Cavalier players who have their jersey retired. Unlike the rest, his number isn’t really retired for what he did on the court for Cleveland.

Thurmond played only 114 games for the Cavs and averaged just 5 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest in mostly a backup center role. That, obviously, isn’t too impressive. But there is a reason why his number is retired by the Cavs.

Thurmond was the first Hall-of-Fame player from Akron to make it big in the NBA. He was a standout at Central High School, where he played alongside another NBA player, Gus Johnson. Thurmond went to college at Bowling Green after turning down a scholarship from Ohio State.

This worked out well as Thurmond became a first-team All-American, led the Falcons to two tournament bids, and was good enough to be drafted third overall by the Golden State Warriors, then the San Francisco Warriors.

Thurmond was a backup to Wilt Chamberlain in his rookie season. That didn’t last long as the Warriors traded Chamberlain to the Philadelphia 76ers, which allowed Thurmond to make his way into the starting lineup. Thurmond thrived in that role as he became known as one of the best centers in the league.

Defense was Thurmond’s calling card. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar called him the toughest defender he faced. The rest of the league saw that as well as he was named to an All-Defensive and All-Star team seven times in his career. That was good enough to be selected to both the 50th and 75th NBA anniversary teams.

Thurmond was well past his prime when he finished his career with his hometown team. He didn’t have the mobility that made him one of the best defensive centers of his time anymore, but he still managed to play a supporting role on one of the most important teams in franchise history.

The Miracle at Richfield team that took down the Washington Bullets was a seminal moment for the franchise. It was their first true accomplishment since being an expansion team six years earlier. It was also their only real success until the Mark Price and Brad Daugherty era.

Thurmond played a reserve role in the seven-game series win over the Bullets. He was thrust into a starting role in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics in 1976 because of an injury to Jim Chones. He performed well, but the team fell short in Game 7. Boston would go on to win the Finals in six games over the Phoenix Suns.

The Cavs do have some questionable jerseys that have been retired. Thurmond is one of them as his on-court impact with Cleveland was minimal. That said, he was one of the best players in his era and a local legend. Thurmond’s impact on Ohio basketball is meaningful. That, combined with what he was able to provide for one of the franchise’s most memorable teams is something worth honoring.

Thurmond passed away in 2016 from leukemia.