Legendary basketball figure and HoF inductee, Al Attles, passes away at the age of 87.
"Alvin Attles embodied the essence of a Warrior, serving as Mr. Warrior himself. His relentless playstyle on the court earned him the affectionate nickname 'The Wrecker,' but it was his compassion, elegance, and humility away from the court that served as an inspiring beacon for the organization for over half a century," the Warriors declared in a statement.
"As a player, coach, manager, ambassador, and above all, as an individual, Alvin set the benchmarks for professionalism and refinement that we all aspire to reach. He leaves behind an enduring legacy within basketball and the Bay Area community, but most significantly as a family man and humanitarian."
Attles' association with the Warriors stands as the longest with a single team in NBA history, according to the team's statement.
"Many historic organizations have a player synonymous with the franchise," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr mentioned. "Al Attles is that figure for us. He's the face of our franchise for numerous generations of Warriors fans. We're fortunate to have him."
The then-Philadelphia Warriors selected Attles from North Carolina A&T State in the fifth round of the 1960 draft.
He featured in 711 regular-season games over 11 seasons for the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors, averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
The guard participated in Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game on March 2, 1962, scoring 17 points in the 169-147 victory against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
As a head coach, Attles' record stood at 557-518 in over 13 seasons, leading the team to the postseason six times. In 1975, he steered the underdog (48-34) Warriors to the NBA championship, sweeping the (60-22) Washington Bullets.
As an executive, Attles brought forth Chris Mullin, center Robert Parish, and head coach George Karl – all eventual Hall of Famers – to the franchise.
"Today is a trying day for me. Alvin Attles exerted a massive, beneficial impact on me and my career, not just by drafting me in 1985 and bringing me to the Bay Area but by guiding me through my journey as a player and a young man, both in good and trying times," Mullin expressed in a statement.
"He set the standard for all of us regarding integrity and humility and was truly a champion both on and off the court. There will never be another Alvin Attles."
Attles is one of six Warriors to have his jersey number retired. The others are Rick Barry, Chamberlain, Tom Meschery, Mullin, and Nate Thurmond.
"I am deeply saddened today with the loss of my mentor and friend. Al was my roommate during my rookie season in the league. He taught me invaluable lessons about being a professional that couldn't be learned on the court," Barry stated in a statement.
"Later, as our coach during the 1975 championship season, he epitomized leadership, unity, and incredible strategic abilities that allowed us to succeed at the highest level."
In 2014, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honored him with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, given to individuals who have 'significantly contributed to the game of basketball.'
Three years later, he was named co-recipient of the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for 'immense and diverse contributions to the NBA game and coaching profession.'
Attles was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Alvin Attles' contributions to the sport of basketball extend beyond his impressive playing and coaching career. His impact as an executive, bringing notable players and coaches into the Warriors organization, is also noteworthy.
The longevity of Alvin Attles' impact on the Warriors is evident in the numerous honors he received, such as having his jersey retired and being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
