Al Attles took over as player-coach for the last season of his career, and remained as head coach until 1983.
13 Facts About Al Attles
2.
Al Attles has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and History along with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
3.
Al Attles intended to return to Newark and coach at his local junior high school when he was drafted by the Warriors.
4.
Al Attles initially declined before accepting and going to training camp.
5.
Al Attles was known as "The Destroyer" due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player in the jaw.
6.
Al Attles 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.
7.
Al Attles became an assistant coach in 1968, while still a player.
8.
Al Attles was one of the first African-American head coaches in the NBA.
9.
Al Attles's team tried to repeat the following season, but they lost to the Phoenix Suns in the Conference Finals in seven games.
10.
Al Attles is the longest-serving coach in Warriors history, and has the most wins in franchise history.
11.
Al Attles was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1993.
12.
Al Attles has been on the Warriors' payroll in one capacity or another for 62 years, the longest uninterrupted streak of any person for one team.
13.
Al Attles is one of the last living members of the franchise who dates to their time in Philadelphia.