Al Attles, the legendary Hall of Famer who also coached the Warriors during their 1975 NBA season and took them to championship-winning glory passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87. Attles spent over 60 years with the organization as a player, general manager, and brand ambassador.

The Warriors announced that Attles died in his San Francisco Bay Area home Tuesday surrounded by family
Nicknamed “The Destroyer” the 6-foot guard averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in 711 games with the Warriors over 11 seasons. These impressive feats earned him the utmost respect and recognition, so much so that his No. 16 jersey was retired by the franchise.

Golden State Warriors franchise shared a heartfelt press release “Alvin leaves behind a profound legacy within the game of basketball and the Bay Area community, but especially as a family man and humanitarian. We mourn his loss alongside his wife, Wilhelmina, son Alvin, and all who knew and loved him.”

Attles made history by becoming one of the first Black head coaches in the NBA
During his player years, he was with Wilt Chamberlain when he played his 100-point game for the Philadelphia Warriors in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on March 2, 1962, in that game, Attles made all eight of his field goal tries for 17 points.

He also coached Hall of Famer Rick Barry who also elaborated on the Warrior’s release “My heart is heavy today with the loss of my mentor and friend. Al was my roommate during my rookie season in the league. He taught me valuable lessons on being a professional that couldn’t be learned on the court”.

“Later, as our coach during the 1975 championship season, he exemplified leadership, togetherness and a keen strategic ability that enabled us to succeed at the highest level.” The release said.

The Warriors announced that Attles died in his San Francisco Bay Area home Tuesday surrounded by family

The defending tournament champion succeeds sports icon Billie Jean King, who was highlighted by the brand earlier this year.

“It is an honor to be on the next Wheaties box, especially as the legendary Billie Jean King passes the historic ‘Wheaties Champion’ title onto me,” said Gauff. “I’ve had so many role models in this sport help guide my professional and personal journey, and I hope to keep empowering the next generation to also work hard and dream big.”

Coco Gauff
To honor the passing of the torch, Gauff will join King on stage during U.S. Open Fan Week on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to celebrate the transition of greatness. The two stars will share their experiences from the worlds of sports and activism and how those opportunities have shaped their characters.

Gauff has displayed her tenacious spirit in spaces that go beyond the tennis court. She is known to use her voice to fight social and racial inequalities while working to make tennis more accessible for children in underprivileged communities.

In 2023, then-19-year-old Gauff became the youngest American to win the U.S. Open since Serena Williams in 1999. The WTA ranked No. 3 was also the only athlete and youngest honoree named to TIME’s Women of the Year list in 2024.