The Golden State Warriors announced Wednesday morning the passing of Basketball Hall of Famer “Mr. Warrior” Alvin Attles yesterday in his East Bay home with family. He was 87 years old.
“Alvin 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,” via @Warriors on social media.
Few have had professional careers as synonymous with one franchise as Attles did with the Warriors. Attles spent the entirety of his 11-year playing career as a Warrior, drafted in the fifth round of the 1960 draft by the then-Philadelphia Warriors. He would follow the team during their move to the Bay Area in 1962. Attles earned the nickname “The Destroyer” because of his defensive tenacity on the court.
In 1968, he shifted into a player-coach role and would later retire proceeding the 1971 season. Following his retirement as a player, he transitioned into the head coach. In 1975, he led the Warriors to their first championship in the Bay Area, sweeping the heavily favored Washington Bullets in four games. Attles coached the Warriors through 1983 and finished atop the franchise list in wins by a coach (557) as well as being the longest-tenured coach in team history. He later served as general manager for three seasons.
Attles’ #16 is one of six jerseys retired and hung in the rafters of Chase Center. In 2014, he received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, regarded as the most prestigious award outside of enshrinement for impact on the game. He later would be named to the 2019 Hall of Fame Class.
“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,” former teammate and player Rick Barry said.
“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,” Warriors Co-Executive Chairman Joe Lacob said.
