Raw footage for the 1986 television special "Once a Star" from the 1986 NBA Legends basketball game during the All-Star Weekend. Nate Thurmond (1941-) is interviewed.
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00:52Copy video clip URL Nate Thurmond is in a hotel lobby after the Legends game. Producer Tom Weinberg asks Thurmond about the high demands of the sport of basketball, and Thurmond attributes this to the “perpetual motion” of the game, the type of players, and rarity of timeouts. He lists some of the surgeries he’s had over the years. Thurmond also talks about the advancements of medicine that shorten the recovery time.
03:25Copy video clip URL Weinberg asks Thurmond about the new generation of older athletes, especially those that are extremely tall, like Thurmond, leading Thurmond to talk about the life expectancy of large athletes. Weinberg that basketball players are the most cosmopolitan of pro-athletes, citing one player running for president. Thurmond explains that many players from his generation had to finish college in order to enter into the NBA draft. He also says that basketball players are the most recognizable athletes because of how much they travel and because of their height. Weinberg and Thurmond then chat about their children. Thurmond talks about his son taking up basketball, and briefly talks about his wife.
07:42Copy video clip URL Thurmond tells Weinberg what a typical day in his life is like. Thurmond lives in San Francisco, does motivational speaking, and does PR for the Golden State Warriors. Weinberg goes on to ask Thurmond about the notion of a “basketball high.” Thurmond states that he has not found a “high” of equal intensity, particularly because of all the fans that attended the games: “Fifteen thousand people yelling ‘Nate.'” Thurmond thinks that to be successful outside of the game, a player must be consistent in- and outside of the game. He then talks about his own background, growing up in Akron, Ohio.
11:38Copy video clip URL Thurmond begins to talk about some of the other players involved in the Legends Game. He states that Pete Maravich was a great player but had never been surrounded with good talent. Thurmond states that Cazzie Russell was the most well-prepared, dedicated person in the NBA. Weinberg and Thurmond continue to talk about Cazzie Russell for several minutes, before stating that Connie Hawkins was “before his time.” “He’s always very entertaining as a player.” The two continue to talk about Connie Hawkins’ presence on the court. Thurmond then talks about playing against Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Thurmond states that Jabbar has lasting power.
17:15Copy video clip URL Thurmond talks about the importance placed in winning a championship. Thurmond states that it is the ultimate goal for a player and his disappointment in not winning a championship, but that he feels vindicated because of his seven All-Star Game appearances. Thurmond goes on to talk about his restaurant “The Beginning.”
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