Al Attles dies at 87: NBA world mourns loss of Warriors legend and pioneering head coach

Gilbert McGregor

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Al Attles dies at 87: NBA world mourns loss of Warriors legend and pioneering head coach image

Al Attles, Basketball Hall of Famer, Warriors legend and pioneer, has died at the age of 87, the Warriors announced Wednesday.

The franchise shared a statement confirming Attles had passed away Tuesday while surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Wilhelmina, and his son, Alvin.

A native of New Jersey, Attles' basketball career blossomed as he was a standout at North Carolina A&T State University, an HBCU in Greensboro, N.C. In 1960, Attles was selected with the 39th overall pick by the then-Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA Draft.

Despite his standing as a fifth-round draft pick, Attles quickly carved a lane for himself in the NBA. He spent the entirety of his NBA career with the Warriors franchise, posting averages of 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over 711 games and 11 seasons.

As he neared the end of his playing career, Attles took on assistant coach duties before being named player-coach of the Warriors during the 1969-70 season, placing him alongside Bill Russell and Lenny Wilkens as the first three Black coaches in NBA history.

After retiring in 1971, Attles stayed on as the Warriors lead man, ultimately leading the franchise to a title in 1975. With the win, Attles became the second Black head coach to lead a team to an NBA championship.

Attles spent 13 seasons as the Warriors head coach, leading the franchise to a 557-518 record and six NBA Playoff appearances. At the time of his passing, Attles still stands as the Warriors all-time leader in head coaching wins.

After the 1982-83 season Attles moved from coaching into the Warriors front office, where he was the team's general manager for three seasons. He returned to the Warriors sideline as an assistant coach for the 1994-95 season before stepping away from coaching for good.

Over the past 60 years, the Bay Area became a second home for Attles. He remained involved with the franchise as a community ambassador and was a mainstay at Warriors events, further strengthening his roots in the Bay.

Basketball world mourns Warriors legend Al Attles

A titan in the game, the basketball world has taken to social media to pay its respects to Attles.

Warriors statement

Alvin Attles did not just epitomize what it meant to be a Warrior—he was Mr. Warrior. His tenacious playing style earned him the affectionate nickname of “The Destroyer” on the court, but it was his gentle soul, grace and humility off the court that served as a guiding light for the organization for more than six decades. As a player, coach, general manager, ambassador, and most of all, as a person, Alvin set the standards of professionalism and class by which we all strive to achieve. He leaves behind a profound legacy within the game of basketball and the Bay Area community, but especially as a family man and humanitarian. We mourn his loss alongside his wife, Wilhelmina, son Alvin, and all who knew and loved him.

Rick Barry statement

My heart is heavy today with the loss of my mentor and friend. Al was my roommate during my rookie season in the league. He taught me valuable lessons on being a professional that couldn’t be learned on the court. Later, as our coach during the 1975 championship season, he exemplified leadership, togetherness and a keen strategic ability that enabled us to succeed at the highest level.  We shared so many wonderful and memorable moments together. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Wilhelmina, and his entire family. He will be dearly missed.

Chris Mullin statement

This is a difficult day for me. Alvin Attles had a huge, positive influence on me and my career, not just drafting me in 1985 and bringing me to the Bay Area but guiding me through my journey as a player and a young man, both in good and difficult times. He was a dear friend, mentor and role model and someone I admired tremendously and tried to emulate. He set the standard for all of us when it comes to integrity and humility and was truly a champion both on and off the court. There will never be another Alvin Attles.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.