The Golden State Warriors shared the sad news that Alvin Attles, a beloved Hall of Famer and Warriors legend, passed away at the age of 87 in the presence of his family at his home. Attles had a remarkable career in the NBA, spending 11 years with the Warriors after being drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. He remained loyal to the team when they moved to San Francisco in 1962.
Attles, who had a successful college career at North Carolina A&T, excelled in the professional ranks with averages of 8.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds. He played a crucial role in the Warriors’ NBA Finals appearances in 1964 and 1967, alongside basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain. Notably, on the night Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962, Attles was the team’s second-leading scorer with 17 points.
The Warriors paid tribute to Attles, stating, “Alvin Attles was not just a Warrior, he was Mr. Warrior. His fierce playing style earned him the nickname ‘The Destroyer’ on the court, while his gentle nature, grace, and humility off the court served as a beacon for the organization for over six decades. As a player, coach, general manager, and ambassador, Alvin set the standard for professionalism and class that we all aspire to. His legacy in basketball and the Bay Area community, as well as his role as a family man and humanitarian, will be deeply missed.”
Attles transitioned into coaching, becoming an assistant coach for the Warriors while still an active player. He later became the player-coach and eventually the head coach until the end of the 1982-83 season. As one of the first Black head coaches in the NBA, Attles led the Warriors to six postseason appearances and a championship victory in the 1974-75 season.
After retiring from coaching, Attles took on the role of general manager for the Warriors, where he drafted future Hall of Famer Chris Mullin in 1985. Mullin became a key player for the Warriors, forming part of the famous “Run TMC” trio with Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond.
Attles’ contributions to the Warriors were recognized with the retirement of his No. 16 jersey, induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, and receiving the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award. His 60-year dedication to the Warriors remains unparalleled in NBA history.
sentence in a different way: “The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
The mouse was chased around the house by the cat.