Al Attles, Warriors Hall of Famer, Passes Away at 87

Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who coached the Golden State Warriors to the 1975 NBA championship and spent over six decades with the team as a player, general manager, and ambassador, has passed away at the age of 87.

Attles died on Tuesday at his East Bay home in California, surrounded by his family. Known as “The Destroyer” for his physical style of play, he was deeply connected to the Warriors, the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 1960 draft. His tenure with the franchise is the longest for any individual in NBA history.

The Warriors released a statement honoring Attles, saying, “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.”

Attles, one of the first Black head coaches in the NBA, witnessed some of basketball's greatest moments. He played in Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 100-point game for the Philadelphia Warriors on March 2, 1962, scoring 17 points himself. He also coached Rick Barry during his 64-point game against Portland on March 26, 1974, and watched Klay Thompson score 60 points in three quarters in December 2016.