OAKLAND, Calif. — Alvin “Al” Attles, former coach and player for the Golden State Warriors, has died. He was 87.
Attles formerly played for the North Carolina A&T State University and was inducted into NC A&T’s Hall of Fame in 1971. He became the first basketball player at NC A&T to have his number retired in 2015.
One of the first Black head coaches in the NBA, Attles spent more than six decades with the Golden State Warriors. He was one of six players to have his jersey retired by the Warriors.
He is remembered for his dedication and deep love for his team.
“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,” Rick Barry, former Golden State Warriors player, said.
Attles led the Warriors as a coach to a championship in 1975, and had over 550 coaching wins - the most in history for the NBA, according to the Associated Press. When he was a player, Attles averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game during his 11 seasons with the Warriors.
He was born in 1936 in Newark, New Jersey and graduated from NC A&T in 1960. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
NC A&T Chancellor James Martin remembers Attles as one of the university's most acclaimed and beloved alumni.
"Alvin Attles stood for everything we want our students to be – accomplished, a lifelong learner and a servant leader. He was one of our most beloved alumni, and Aggies around the world are deeply proud of the impact he not only had at A&T, but in the NBA over a legendary, unparalleled career,” Martin said.
Beyond his coaching efforts for the Warriors, Attles was considered a “father figure to all of us,” according to Clifford Ray, a former NBA player with the Warriors.
“He has flourished in every role and responsibility over the last 60 years, from player to coach to general manager and, most recently, as an ambassador. And, he’s done it with an incredible amount of class and humility,” Joe Lacob, owner of the Warriors, said.
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