Al Attles
Encyclopedia
Alvin A. "Al" Attles Jr. (born November 7, 1936 in Newark, New Jersey
) is a retired American professional basketball
player and coach. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School
in Newark and North Carolina A&T State University. Attles played eleven seasons for the National Basketball Association
's San Francisco Warriors
(which were called the Philadelphia Warriors until 1962) beginning in 1960. He was a role player on the 1964 Warriors team (with Wilt Chamberlain
, Guy Rodgers
) that made the NBA Finals
and eventually lost the series to the Boston Celtics
four games to one. He also played on the Warriors' 1967 team that lost to Chamberlain's 68-13 Philadelphia 76ers
in a closely played six-game final series.
Attles later became one of the first African-American coaches in the NBA, when he succeeded George Lee
as Warriors head coach in 1970. Attles guided the Rick Barry
-led Warriors to the 1975 NBA championship, making him the second African American coach to win an NBA title (the first was Bill Russell
). Attles coached the Warriors until 1983, compiling a 557-518 regular season record (588-548 overall in 14 seasons with 6 playoff appearances).
His number 16 is retired by the Golden State Warriors and he attends every Warriors home game.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
) is a retired American professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and coach. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School is a public high school in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue....
in Newark and North Carolina A&T State University. Attles played eleven seasons for the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's San Francisco Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(which were called the Philadelphia Warriors until 1962) beginning in 1960. He was a role player on the 1964 Warriors team (with Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
, Guy Rodgers
Guy Rodgers
Guy William Rodgers was an American professional basketball player born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent twelve years in the NBA, and was one of the league's best playmakers in the early to mid 1960s...
) that made the NBA Finals
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
and eventually lost the series to the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
four games to one. He also played on the Warriors' 1967 team that lost to Chamberlain's 68-13 Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
in a closely played six-game final series.
Attles later became one of the first African-American coaches in the NBA, when he succeeded George Lee
George C. Lee
George C. Lee is a retired American basketball player and coach. A forward/guard from the University of Michigan, Lee was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the fourth round of the 1959 NBA Draft...
as Warriors head coach in 1970. Attles guided the Rick Barry
Rick Barry
Richard Francis Dennis Barry III , better known as Rick Barry, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is considered by many veteran basketball observers to be one of the greatest pure small forwards of all time as a result of his very precise outside shot, uncanny court vision,...
-led Warriors to the 1975 NBA championship, making him the second African American coach to win an NBA title (the first was Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association...
). Attles coached the Warriors until 1983, compiling a 557-518 regular season record (588-548 overall in 14 seasons with 6 playoff appearances).
His number 16 is retired by the Golden State Warriors and he attends every Warriors home game.