Al Attles, a former HBCU basketball star and NBA championship-winning coach, has passed away at age 87.
The Warriors announced Wednesday that Attles died in his San Francisco Bay Area home Tuesday surrounded by family.
Known affectionately as “The Destroyer,” Attles’ legacy spans over six decades, all of which he spent with the Golden State Warriors. Attles was one of the first Black head coaches in the NBA, leading the Warriors to their first West Coast championship in 1975. Beyond his coaching career, Attles was a beloved ambassador for the team, and his contributions to the sport earned him a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. His impact on basketball and his dedication to the Warriors will be remembered forever.
Attles’ influence extended beyond the NBA, as he was also a proud HBCU alumnus of North Carolina A&T State University, where his number 22 was the first to be retired by the school. He helped lead North Carolina A&T to multiple CIAA titles during the late 1950s and is a member of the CIAA Hall of Fame as well. His life and career serve as a testament to the power of perseverance, loyalty, and passion for the game.
Rest in peace, Al Attles, a true legend of the sport.