Legendary Basketball Hall Of Famer And Coach Has Passed Away

NBA champion and coach, Al Attles, passed away. He was 87. Attles spent over 60 years with the Golden State Warriors organization as a player, general manager, coach, and team ambassador.

The Warriors announced that Attles passed away on August 21 at  his San Francisco Bay Area house on August 20 with his family members gathered around. Details about his cause of death were not revealed, but he had battled some health issues in recent years. 

Al Attles is a legendary figure in NBA history, particularly known for his long association with the Golden State Warriors. He was born on November 7, 1936, in Newark, New Jersey, Attles played college basketball at North Carolina A&T State University before being drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. He spent his entire playing career with the Warriors. The team transitioned from the Philadelphia Warriors to the San Francisco Warriors and eventually the Golden State Warriors.

Attles was a tough, defense-oriented guard who was known for his unselfish play and leadership on the court. After retiring as a player in 1971, he immediately went into coaching, becoming the head coach of the Warriors. This made him one of the first black coaches in the NBA. In 1975, he led the Warriors to an NBA Championship. This was the franchise’s first title in the West Coast era. As team coach, he was responsible for  557 coaching wins which is the most in franchise history. 

Beyond his coaching career, Attles remained a significant figure within the Warriors organization. He served in various roles including as a general manager and ambassador. His commitment to the franchise and his impact on the NBA has made him one of the most respected figures in the league. Attles was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2019. His dedication to the Warriors, spanning over six decades, is unparalleled. 

Rest in Peace