Nate Thurmond, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee considered one of the greatest centers ever to play in the NBA, died on Saturday at age 74, his former team the Golden State Warriors said in a statement. Thurmond, known for his bruising on-court style, died in San Francisco after a short battle with leukemia, the team said. The seven-time National Basketball Association all-star excelled at all aspects of the game during a career that spanned from 1963 to 1977.