Insane Nate Thurmond picture

[Fatal9]

was looking at pictures of Kareem/Thurmond's '72 matchup and came across this. Look at the right shoulder. did this dude have a permanent "pump" during games? Your veins shouldn't be popping out like that. Look at the left leg too, looks right out of a sculpture. I always see kblaze posting a picture of Thurmond grabbing a rebound but you only see his upper body. I didn't know he had bionic legs too.

he's the most shredded NBA player from the pics I've seen, puts david robinson to shame. almost a bit repulsive to look at how cut he is.

side note, was 1972 the greatest and deepest center field ever?

Kareem
Wilt
Cowens
Thurmond
Lanier
Unseld
Reed (though he was hurt for most of it)
Bellamy

All HOFers.

3 of the 5 best defensive centers in Kareem, Wilt, Thurmond. 2 of the top 3 centers ever. Half the league had hall of fame centers. How the fck did Kareem average 35 ppg on these guys? There are more solid defensive centers like Elmore Smith who I didn't even mention. Just mind-boggling.

edit:

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

quality post.
that's back when the league had real centers...lots of them.
and the were mean.
and they would foul the sh!t out of any fool coming down the lane.

[pete's montreux]

that n*gga is farm strong

[plowking]

Judging by that picture, I'd estimate he has somewhere around 2 or 3% body fat. That's just nuts...

[inclinerator]

ur kidding probably 4-5 at best

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

get this...
1972 Western Conf All-Stars included:
Kareem
Oscar
Wilt
Elvin Hayes
Bob Lanier
Jerry West
Connie Hawkins
and of course a few other big names.

that's sick.

[MiseryCityTexas]

dudes built like a heavy weight mma fighter. not a basketball player.

[catch24]

I can see why people think he was a hellacious defender (some say he defended Kareem the best), wow.

[GollyImSoGully]

It is kinda repulsive.

[Disaprine]

Nate Thurmond is underrated as hell, i remember in a youtube video where Wilt said that Nate gave him problems when ever he defended him.

[Kblaze8855]

I watched him in a couple all star games and some games showcasing Rick Barry and his offense was nothing like I expected. His jumper was kinda wet from 18-20 feet and he was hitting them in traffic. Not exactly taking guys off the dribble but he would come down catch it around 20 one dribble pull up drain it. Had some moves around the basket too. Hes one I hate that I missed.

[Fatal9]

get this...
1972 Western Conf All-Stars included:
Kareem
Oscar
Wilt
Elvin Hayes
Bob Lanier
Jerry West
Connie Hawkins
and of course a few other big names.

that's sick.

I have the full Bucks boxscores from that season. I'll post some of Kareem's splits against those guys in another thread when I have time. It's crazy what he did to some of these guys (gave Wilt 50, gave Cowens...all defensive first teamer in 70s 50+ TWICE, near 40/30 games...I mean he annihilated the league at a time when it was arguably the deepest at his position). I never understood the stupid "weak-era" talk especially for early 70s. '75 & '76 I could see (and Kareem didn't even have a chance to win a ring those years because his team collapsed during his injury) but then the merger happened and NBA got even more talent.

Nate Thurmond is underrated as hell, i remember in a youtube video where Wilt said that Nate gave him problems when ever he defended him.

Kareem too...only guy I'd say who could consistently control him. Apparently he had a nice vertical to go with his strength, and could challenge the hook and also be very physical with him. Would be one of the 5+ block guys if they kept that stat back then.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Super low body fat %. The left leg is crazier than the arms. I've seen other pics of players (MJ, Gilmore, DRob) in motion where their legs/arms looked similarly shredded, but not *quite* that much. I also think the lack of color helps with that illusion since it provides higher contrast.

[magnax1]

Maybe hes a robot from the future?

David Robinson probably was too.

[L.Kizzle]

Most underrated center from his era.

Wilt and Russell than later Kareem and Cowens and Walton. Also, Reed and Unseld and McAdoo get more talk then him. Hell, you could say Bellamy and Gilmore to some extent.