Al Attles, a former NBA guard, coach, and executive who spent his career with the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Golden State Warriors, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87.
“Alvin Attles didn’t just embody what it meant to be a Warrior—he was Mr. Warrior. Known as ‘The Destroyer’ on the court for his fierce playing style, it was his kindness, grace, and humility off the court that guided the organization for more than six decades,” the Warriors said in a statement.
Attles played for the Warriors from 1961 to 1971 and coached the team from 1970 to 1983. He was associated with the franchise in various roles for over 60 years.
As a player, the Newark, N.J. native and North Carolina A&T alumnus consistently averaged double-digit points per game and ranked in the NBA’s top 20 in assists four times.
Attles became a player-coach in his final two seasons and led the Warriors to an NBA championship in 1975. That year’s Finals marked the first championship series between two Black coaches in North American sports history, with Attles facing off against K.C. Jones of the Washington Bullets.