Al Attles, Warriors’ most enduring, selfless legend, dies at 87

Al Attles, Warriors’ most enduring, selfless legend, dies at 87 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For a man who made sports history, who led one of sport’s biggest underdogs to a resounding championship triumph, Al Attles blew his trumpet so quietly it was barely visible. One had to lean in closely for any chance to hear it.

Attles would joke about the night in 1962 when he and San Francisco Warriors teammate Wilt Chamberlain combined to score 117 points. It was a joke because Chamberlain was responsible for 100 of those points.

What Attles wouldn’t say is that his 17 points came on eight field-goal attempts and one free throw. He made every shot he took.

Such modesty was typical of Al Attles, and he never lost it no matter the heights he achieved.

Attles passed away Tuesday, the Warriors announced. He was 87 (birthdate 11/7/36). It’s altogether conceivable that during his final weeks in hospice care his every waking moment were about thoughts of those around him and not one second about himself.

The Golden State Warriors mourn the loss of franchise legend Alvin Attles, who passed away yesterday at the age of 87.

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… pic.twitter.com/4QJ6XeiMwF

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 21, 2024

And there was so much to the man.

Attles grew up in Newark, N.J. before leaving in 1956 to attend historically Black North Carolina A&T, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and history, followed by a master’s in curriculum and instruction. He also played basketball well enough to be drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors. He was selected in the fifth round, 39th overall, in the 1960 NBA draft.

Nope. Attles, at 23, decided he would rather coach the game than play it. For real. His plan was to ignore the call of the NBA and become a gym teacher. The Warriors persisted. Attles begrudgingly decided he would show up for training camp.

“The money was too good,” he told me many years ago. “Almost $6,000 a year.”

Though Attles wasn’t…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/al-attles-warriors-most-enduring-165151657.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2024-08-22 00:46:45

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