Nate ‘The Great’ Thurmond, 1968

[The NBA’s recent 75^th Anniversary Team included a few unexpected, though certainly deserving, names. High among them is Nate Thurmond. Nate the Great. When he was healthy with Golden State, Thurmond ranked right up there with the greatest.

Over the years, I’ve read countless homages to Russell and Chamberlain. The high praise, of course, is deserved. Bu…