Nate Thurmond played in the first men’s basketball game at Anderson Arena in 1960.
On Saturday he attended the final regular-season game scheduled for the venue. The men’s and women’s
basketball teams and the volleyball team will be playing in the Stroh Center starting this fall.
In between, Thurmond was a standout player for the Falcons, one of the top 50 players of all-time in the
National Basketball Association, a successful businessman, and a strong member of the community who
currently lives in San Francisco.
During his career at Bowling Green, Thurmond scored 1,356 points and he still holds the school’s career
rebounding record with 1,295, while playing only three years on the varsity.
Thurmond was back in Bowling Green to be recognized as a member of the 13-player All-Anderson team,
present remarks in a ceremony after BG’s game with Buffalo and take part in a Saturday evening event to
celebrate the memories of Anderson Arena.
“I’m kind of an emotional guy, and I was trying to hold back the tears,” Thurmond said Saturday
afternoon. “I didn’t even try to look at my notes. I’m glad I could remember what I wanted to say.
“There’s no question that some of my best years, like I said, the blossoming years (were) here. I came
here at 18 and I left at 22, just so many great memories, so many friends,” Thurmond continued. “The
arena smells the same as it did when I was here … It just brings back a lot of emotions.”
Thurmond played for legendary coach Harold Anderson, for whom the arena is named. Thurmond had visited
Ohio State and Kent State when he was looking to make his college choice.
“When I came here and met Harold Anderson and Mrs. Anderson, it was like a very fatherly image,” Thurmond
said. “He had a twitch in his eye. Behind his back we called him “Blinky’.
“It was a nice transition to see an older gentleman who cared more about the person than he did about the
basketball, in my opinion.”
Thurmond and Anderson were both inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985.
“The recognition for him was long overdue,” Thurmond said. “Certainly for me, being selected to the Hall
of Fame, was a major plus in my career because, unfortunately, I went to the finals twice and didn’t win
it in the NBA.
“Being inducted with Harold, a guy who made me into the player that I became or had a lot to do with
that, it was very special,” Thurmond added.
While Thurmond has many fond memories of Anderson Arena, he knows that a new facility can be a positive
thing.
“i look at it as progress. The new arena will have its flavor, it will have its nights that it will
roar,” he said. “There will be some more outstanding players. I am really proud of the fact that there
are maybe 10 players, or more, who left this school and went on to the NBA.
“Hopefully I’ll be back to see the new Stroh Center,” Thurmond added.