Al Attles, a Hall of Famer who led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA championship in 1975, passed away at his California home on Tuesday. He was 87.
The Warriors described Attles as the heart and soul of the team. Known for his tough playing style and nickname “The Destroyer,” Attles was also admired for his kindness and humility off the court. He had a remarkable career with the Warriors, which is the longest anyone has spent with a single NBA team.
Steve Kerr, the Warriors’ head coach, said that Attles is the face of the franchise and an important figure for many Warriors fans. Attles is remembered not just for his achievements in basketball, but also for his impact on the community and his family.
The then-Philadelphia Warriors selected Attles out of North Carolina A&T State in the fifth round of the 1960 draft.
Al Attles played 711 games over 11 seasons with the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors, scoring an average of 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He was part of Wilt Chamberlain’s famous 100-point game in 1962, where he scored 17 points in a big win against the New York Knicks.
As a head coach, Attles had a record of 557 wins and 518 losses over more than 13 seasons. He led the Warriors to the playoffs six times and won the NBA championship in 1975 by defeating the Washington Bullets.
Attles also made a big impact as an executive, bringing in future Hall of Famers like Chris Mullin, Robert Parish, and coach George Karl to the Warriors.
Chris Mullin praised Attles, saying he had a major positive influence on his career and life. Mullin noted that Attles set high standards for integrity and humility and was a champion both on and off the court.
Al Attles is one of only six players whose jersey number has been retired by the Warriors. The others are Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Tom Meschery, Chris Mullin, and Nate Thurmond.
Rick Barry, a former teammate, said he was deeply saddened by Attles’ passing. He remembered Attles as a mentor who taught him important lessons about professionalism, both on and off the court. Barry also praised Attles for his leadership and strategy during the 1975 championship season.
In 2014, Attles received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his major contributions to basketball. Three years later, he was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for his extensive contributions to the NBA and coaching. Attles was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.
