"A genial giant of a man, Nate Thurmond was one of the all-time great NBA centers, with a rugged, in-your-face style of play that frequently intimidated even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain." ...

BLADE Keith Erickson of the Los Angeles Lakers, right, tries to get the ball but Nate Thurmond of the San Francisco Warriors, center, has complete control. At left is Wilt Chamberlain. ASSOCIATED ...