The Golden State Warriors, like the Eastern Conference’s Boston Celtics, are using their uniforms to make a statement in honor of a lost loved one. In Boston’s case, the black stripe on the Celtics jerseys was added during the playoffs to honor the life of Chyna Thomas, the younger sister of Celtics star guard Isaiah Thomas. (Chyna died in a tragic auto accident just as the playoffs began.) In the Warriors case, the colorful band or patch across the jersey with the #42 on it has been there all season — it honors the late, great Nate Thurmond, one of the best to ever wear a Warriors uniform.
Thurmond was voted one of the 50 Best Players in NBA history and was elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985. The 7’0″ Thurmond played 11 of his 15 seasons for the Warriors. He averaged 15 rebounds a game for his career, grabbing an astounding 22 boards a game during the 1967-68 season. Thurmond died last summer at age 74 before the current NBA season began. He not only played for the Warriors, but Thurmond remained an active member of the franchise as an ambassador for 30-plus years after his retirement.
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