Wilt Chamberlain or Shaquille O'Neal? The two most powerful centers of all time. I hung on Thurmond's every word.
Thurmond was Chamberlain's teammate his first 11/2 years in the pros. They were the first official “Twin Towers.”
“What a great learning experience,” said Thurmond. “Five days after leaving Bowling Green, I'm getting off the plane and practicing against Wilt.”
All of which makes Thurmond's admission even more revealing. Nate's a Shaq fan.
“Wilt was a giant. But 60 percent of his points came on fadeaways. He was a powerful man who didn't always play that way,” said Thurmond, who does community-relations work for the Warriors and owns a barbecue restaurant in San Francisco.
“Shaquille O'Neal, he's a different player. He presents a problem none of us had to face.
“He's more than 300 pounds, with speed, power and quickness. Most of the big guys I played against were lumbering types, nothing like Shaquille. I just feel that at my 6-11, 235, I would have had a problem with him. He moves people out of the way, dislodges them. Wilt was more finesse.
“How could I have had a solution for Shaquille? He's 100 pounds heavier than me.”
BGSU great Thurmond likes Shaq over Wilt - Toledo Blade
Thurmond was Chamberlain's teammate his first 11/2 years in the pros. They were the first official “Twin Towers.”
“What a great learning experience,” said Thurmond. “Five days after leaving Bowling Green, I'm getting off the plane and practicing against Wilt.”
All of which makes Thurmond's admission even more revealing. Nate's a Shaq fan.
“Wilt was a giant. But 60 percent of his points came on fadeaways. He was a powerful man who didn't always play that way,” said Thurmond, who does community-relations work for the Warriors and owns a barbecue restaurant in San Francisco.
“Shaquille O'Neal, he's a different player. He presents a problem none of us had to face.
“He's more than 300 pounds, with speed, power and quickness. Most of the big guys I played against were lumbering types, nothing like Shaquille. I just feel that at my 6-11, 235, I would have had a problem with him. He moves people out of the way, dislodges them. Wilt was more finesse.
“How could I have had a solution for Shaquille? He's 100 pounds heavier than me.”
BGSU great Thurmond likes Shaq over Wilt - Toledo Blade
@ Bill Russell trying to guard Shaq
