Golden State Warriors History: Dramatic Break-Ups — Nate Thurmond

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a multi-part series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3]

Breaking-up is hard to do. In sports and in the NBA, it can send ripples into an organization’s success path that lasts years or decades. Just ask the Cleveland Cavaliers and now with the return of LeBron James, the Miami Heat.

The much talked about break-up of the Golden State Warriors‘ backcourt “#SplashBrothers” duo of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in order to acquire the services of Kevin Love just recently is one that could have #DubNation debating for seasons to come.

As the Warriors recover from their most recent split with former head coach Mark Jackson and ponder whether to break-up the #SplashBrothers, it’s a good time to look at the most dramatic splits in Warrior history…

NATE THURMOND

Thurmond was really the first beloved big man that Warrior fans found hard to say good-bye to.

After the Wilt Chamberlain trade (described in Part 1), the third year 6’11” power forward from Bowling Green University was moved to the middle for the Warriors where he would man the center position for another 11 seasons.

Thurmond was not only beloved by the home-town fans, but respected around the league and for good reason.

“Nate the Great” as he was dubbed by those around him would end up being a seven time all-star and later named to the NBA’s 50 greatest players and inducted to the Hall of Fame for his scoring and rebounding prowess.

Even with Thurmond’s dominant play, however, the Warriors couldn’t win a championship and in a move to try and change that he was shipped to the Chicago Bulls for Clifford Ray prior the 1974-75 season.

Without the Thurmond trade, though, there would be no 1975 World Championship and thus even with the heartbreak of his departure, most Warrior fans gave few tears to his absence the season after.

(Photo: via NASLjerseys.com)