The Golden State Warriors announced the passing of franchise legend and NBA pioneer Alvin Attles at the age of 87.
Attles cherished his legacy at North Carolina A&T, where his number 22 was retired on February 7, 2015, marking the first time in the history of the men’s basketball program that a player’s number was honored in this way.
In a special ceremony on November 21, 2021, former N.C. A&T Men’s basketball coach Will Jones and Aggies’ play-by-play announcer Spencer Turkin traveled to California to present Attles with his retired jersey during a Warriors game at the Chase Center.
Attles, who was inducted into the N.C. A&T Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971, led the Aggies to two consecutive CIAA titles in 1958 and 1959. He scored 1,039 points in 82 games and graduated in 1960 with a degree in physical education and history. Drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960, Attles spent 11 years with the team and later had his No. 16 jersey retired by the Warriors, alongside his No. 22 at North Carolina A&T.
Attles entered the NBA as a fifth-round draft pick and became known for his tenacity and defensive prowess, often guarding the league’s top guards. He played in two NBA Finals and was part of one of the most famous games in NBA history on March 2, 1962, where teammate Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points.
After his playing career, Attles transitioned to coaching, becoming a player/coach for the Warriors in his final two seasons and then serving as head coach for 11 more years. His coaching career included 557 wins, six playoff berths, and leading the Warriors to their first NBA championship as a West Coast franchise in 1975, making him the second African-American coach to win an NBA title.
Attles was a fixture at Warriors’ home games and served as a team ambassador. His 60-year tenure with the Warriors, the longest continuous streak with one NBA franchise, included induction into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Attles’ legacy as a player, coach, and executive has left an indelible mark on the sport and serves as a blueprint for future generations. We extend our deepest condolences to his family.
