Al Attles

Who is Al Attles?

Alvin Austin "Al" Attles Jr. is an American retired professional basketball player and coach best known for his longtime association with the Golden State Warriors. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark and North Carolina A&T State University. Attles joined the then-Philadelphia Warriors in 1960 and moved with the team to the Bay Area, playing with the team until 1971. He was a role player on the 1964 Warriors team that made the NBA Finals and eventually lost the championship series to the Boston Celtics, four games to one. Attles also played on the Warriors' 1967 team that lost to Chamberlain's 68-13 Philadelphia 76ers in an evenly-matched, six-game championship series.

Attles later became one of the first African-American coaches in the NBA when he was named player-coach of the Warriors midway through the 1969-70 season, succeeding George Lee. Attles guided the Rick Barry-led Warriors to the 1975 NBA championship, making him the second African American coach to win an NBA title. Attles coached the Warriors until 1983, compiling a 557-518 regular season record with 6 playoff appearances in 14 seasons.