Al Attles, NBA player. Tuesday, February 12, 2013. . "I'll take care of it. By the time Juan was 14, Patricias goal for him was clear: college somewhere, anywhere and a life away from Oakland. After a long, winding, and non-traditional route, Juan Toscano-Anderson played his first minutes on the NBA hardwood in regular season action. Originally, we thought this piece was going to speak to his victories, his winning percentage, his accolades, and his achievements with the Warriors. After police officers broke up the dispute and left the scene, the man returned. She was aware of the strugglesthe Toscano family was facing and wanted to help, so she suggested Toscano-Andersonenrollin the Golden State Warriors youth camp. "To be. The Warriors have invited various luminaries, including Barry, Mullin, Sleepy Floyd, Marreese Speights and Jason Richardson for Sundays game against the Los Angeles Clippers, which marks the final regular-season game at Oracle Arena. But what he brings to this team extends far beyond what the stat sheet shows. It wasn't until he was a bit older that he made a concerted effort to get more in touch with his Hispanic roots. The boy bothering my aunt found that out the hard way. But before he could play in a preseason game, Toscano-Anderson had to complete what has become a team tradition at the annual Open Practice: he had to sing. I knew my family was Mexican. Attles, 82, arrived Friday for Game 4 of the NBA Finals with son Al Attles III to a warm welcome from security and arena staff. Obviously a smart, smart player. Thompson: Known for his toughness, Warriors legend Al Attles' strength comes from his wife's love By Marcus Thompson II Apr 4, 2019 Al Attles, 82, is a champ in the kitchen. "I need to raise the bar. I don't know if it was my pride or selfishness, but I have no regrets.". Its nice they are recognizing someone who has been committed to the game of basketball.. He loved it. So instead of a substantial financial increase and a promise of more executive control in a new city, my dad settled for lifelong season tickets, a small salary bump and a familiar seat in his office in the Oakland Coliseum. His top choice was Cal in nearby Berkeley, but his mother, desperate for him to get as far away from East Oaklands streets as possible, persuaded him to pick the Wisconsin school. 16, Barry (24), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Tom Meschery (14), Chris Mullin (17) and Nate Thurmond (42) hang in the rafters. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. She also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels' AAU basketball team. While youre asleep, there is someone on the other side of the world trying to figure out a way to steal your ideas and take your money.. Around this time, a student in Juans third-grade class at Stonehurst Elementary School in East Oakland threatened to stab him. Patricia wascalled into a parent-teacher conference with Toscano-Anderson's teacher, WillheminaAttles. Encouraged by her reaction, my father soon became the primary cook in our family. (Ray Chavez/Staff Archives). He immediately makes an impact as an energy dude off the bench, grabbing every offensive rebound in sight, Dana said as he analyzed the forward. He is married to Willhemina Rice. I don't want to say I didn't accept it. At first, it was about making the Santa Cruz Warriors during a tryout. The court was renamed as Al Attles Court. Even when he was not at his healthiest, Attles still attended Warriors home games in recent seasons. Lamb chops.. Beyond that, Attles didnt know much. Like, let's do it, as opposed to just beating up on the kids at school and in my class all the time. Even now, 42 games into his NBA career, Toscano-Anderson still finds it hard to believe hes on the Warriors. The time he saw a homeless man beat another homeless man with an aluminum bat on 95th Avenue. I vividly remember racing to my parents home under ashen clouds, sirens filling the air. Al Attles is best known as a Basketball Player. (By Dino Vournas/Straff Archives), Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles rejoices. But eventually, they did. He had the shooting touch of a jackhammer, but no team ever traded Attles for cash and a fist to be named later, probably because if intimidation was what you wanted, it was clearly better to fight with Attles than against him. The Bay Area will catch a break from winter storms for a couple days, but it wont last very long. It was during the early October matchups that Toscano-Anderson made another nod to his upbringing as he changed his jersey number to 95. "I knew that I was Mexican. One night, Raymond Young, the Oakland Rebels head coach, called Patricia and told her to make other babysitting arrangements. Now that I have this opportunity to play for the Warriors what I plan to do is just be me: be a great teammate, be the hardest playing guy on the floor, whatever it takes to win. He listened to rap music and spent most of his time in "the hood.". Without him, she felt lost. He is an actor, known for Inside Moves (1980), The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame. And most famously, so did Mike Riordan of the Washington Bullets. "I love Al Attles (then the head coach). Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot concedes defeat, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Denver just got a direct flight to this Caribbean island known for music history and vegetarian cooking, NYC Mayor Adams dismisses need to separate church and state, declares himself a servant of God, Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Friends told her that he had blossomed into an all-state player at Castro Valley High School. . According to police, after a 17-year-old alleged gang member tried to crash the party and was turned away by Toscanos father, he returned a half hour later and opened fire on bystanders, killing Toscano and wounding three others. Now living this childhood dream, Toscano-Anderson returned to Chase Center not as someone on the preseason roster contending for a spot, but as a Golden State Warrior. Want Warriors news delivered to your phone? Bay Area gets a break from winter storm. I grew up around [an] all Mexican family. He thanked Attles again Thursday, noting, "She just changed my life." Sure, he made up those scenarios in his head but didn't think they'd become reality. Im just ecstatic that hes one of the positive ones. Back when Attles had a sharper memory, his consideration for others left a lasting impact. My dad agreed and the next day, he promptly burned a can of franks-and-beans for dinner. But his desire to play basketball continued, which led him to play in Mexico for four seasons and play for the Mexican national basketball team. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? Attles was known as "The Destroyer" due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player in the jaw. She also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels AAU basketball team. Mrs. Attles, as Toscano-Anderson called her, encouraged the young boy to join the Warriors' youth basketball program, and also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels AAU basketball team. After averaging 3.8 points per game over his four-year career at Marquette, Toscano-Anderson didnt receive a single offer to play overseas, much less in the NBA. Before returning to his luxury apartment near Chase Center in San Francisco, Toscano-Anderson feasts at his favorite Mexican restaurant, Mariscos La Costa on International Boulevard. It's another experience I share in common with him, often being told I acted or sounded "too white" to be Black. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, Steph Curry could return during Warriors next road trip, per reports, Kerrs game plan, the Warriors energy, lifted the Dubs to a much-needed win, Draymond Green explains his issue with Black History Month: Why do we get the shortest month?, Warriors come alive in third quarter to beat Portland, Steph Curry takes encouraging step in lead-up to return, though timetable still unknown. Dont EVER touch my son. But the more we thought about it, the more we knew we wanted to tell people about the things that make my father special to us. Fell in love. He's ready to pay it back to his mother -- the woman who gave him everything -- and pay it forward to his siblings. Meteorologist Gerry Daz examines why Februarys storm door was left wide open and when more Yosemite breaks snow record; park closed indefinitely, The epic California snowpack is inching toward record levels. Alvin Attles' wife she was my third grade teacher and I was playing soccer prior to that put me into a Warriors Camp. None of this wouldve been possible without your love and support at a very difficult time in our lives, Patricia wrote. Al Attle's wife Wilhemina with children Erika and Alvin Jr. watch Game 4 of the championship series against the Washington Bullets May 25, 1975 (Photo by Terry Schmitt/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) DETAILS Restrictions: Contact your local office for all commercial or promotional uses. Alvin Attles, Actor: Inside Moves. He made about $2,000 a month with Santa Cruz. Using her sisters address, Patricia transferred Juan to Montclair only a 15-minute drive from Elmhurst, but a world away in some respects. Al Attle's wife Wilhemina with children Erika and Alvin Jr. watch Game 4 of the championship series against the Washington Bullets May 25, 1975 (Photo by Terry Schmitt/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images), 1983 x 3296 px (6.61 x 10.99 in) - 300 dpi - 2 MB. After finishing fifth on the Warriors all-time games played list (711), he transitioned into coaching the organization. As Toscano-Anderson said, the team never treated him as a two-way player because of what he brought to the court. His career was built on maximizing his ability and working to become efficient in areas he wasnt comfortable. The Jersey Jet) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-0 , 175lb (183cm, 79kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 16 16 16 SUMMARY Career G 711 PTS 8.9 TRB 3.5 AST 3.5 FG% 45.1 FT% 63.2 PER 11.3 WS 36.5 Al Attles Overview Game Logs Game-by-game stat line for the player 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 "It was like something to feed off of," the Warriors forwardsaid. I wanted to be a guy who establishes himself in this league and is not just here for preseason or a 10-day or a call-up. Yes, the wife of Warriors legend Al Attles. It was very structured. But my father never seriously entertained any of those offers. During the first few months in his new town, he took care of his two younger siblings while his mom worked as the director of Catholic Charities violence prevention program. The time when he was in the backseat of his moms car outside the McDonalds on 98th Avenue and International as men exchanged gunfire that barely missed him. Clifford, who referred to Attles as a father figure to all of us, argued that background helped black NBA players feel more comfortable learning because of the similar cultural background. But even with his guaranteed contract, he knows it doesn't mean he can slack off. Now on that standard contract, Juan is ready to prove that decision was the right one. He thanked Attles again Thursday, noting, "She just changed my life." My dad asked how he could help, and my mom suggested he help by giving her a break and cooking every now and then. Over the next three years, he established himself as the countrys best player. Al Attles with Ben Trefny The Warriors just won their fourth NBA title in eight years - we hear from the man who coached them to their first title here back in 1975, former Warriors head coach Al Attles. Everybody always said that if Al ever got into boxing, Barry said, he probably wouldve been a world champion.. But my dads priorities even in a potentially life-changing situation, left a deep impression on me. could be eligible for a share of $104 million. (Dan Honda/Bay Area News Group), Golden State Warriors legend Al Attles, center, tosses the basket ball between Jenny Fang, left, and her cousin Ella Fang to start a game as part of the refurbished baskteball court ceremony at Lincoln Square Park in Oakland in 2006. Because of those various roles, Attles is one of six Warriors players to have their jersey retired. During the All-Star break, Toscano-Anderson held a basketball camp at an elementary school in Monterrey, Mexico. To a man, they all said my father was not a man you wanted to cross. Point guard who starred for the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and coached the team from 1970-1983. One family member who took them in for a period had a rule: Everyone needed to be out of the house by the time she left for work at 4 a.m. For the four hours before Patricia could drop her kids off at school, she watched as Juan read childrens books to his little sister and sang songs in their sedan. Although I never quite understood the one-half-of-one-percent phrase, at five years old I understood that my father was a practical man. All my life, my family and I have seen a Hall of Fame man. Dad got ejected, not Barry, and the Warriors completed the sweep. Jersey No. She also did the cooking, the cleaning, paid the bills, helped with homework, carpooled us to our various activities and even taught me how to play basketball, as more and more of my fathers time was spent at work. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the 1960 NBA draft. Family photos from Juan Toscano-Andersons youth. Alvin Austin Attles Jr. (born November 7, 1936) is an American former professional basketball player and coach best known for his longtime association with the Golden State Warriors. "I can get in where I fit in in the hood, and I can go to a quinceaeraand speak Spanish. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Toscano-Anderson was born and raised in East Oakland. Barry, however, is less reticent, which is much of the reason he is an. bobbleheads of his likeness. . I am excited to be in Springfield. After a home game last month, he returned to his apartment with his girlfriend and turned on NBC Sports Bay Area. Oakland is no stranger to people with mixed backgrounds. "That's what makes me go.". On a handful of chilly nights, when Patricia couldnt afford a motel and no relatives had a spare room, she slept in the passenger seat while Juan and Ariana were in the back, their blankets pulled tight. Almost all their belongings, including many of the kids childhood photos, were destroyed. He was named player-coach of the Warriors midway through the 196970 season, succeeding George Lee. Juan Toscano-Anderson with his family as he graduates from Castro Valley High School. Juan Toscano-Anderson, even as a child, always appreciated his mother, Patricia, raising him in a single-parent home. What she couldnt have foreseen was that Juan would travel the world, only to return to the Bay Area and offer hope to the next generation of Oaklanders. Now, just knowing that hecan provide for his family and stay close to them is just the icing on the cake to signing his contract. Al Attles was such a player, an enforcer. Juan often was late to school -- not because of rebellion, but because his motherwas spread thin -- and during class, he wasn't fully present. That message is easier to tell someone than it is to actually have the words stick. "I think I have gone above and beyond to show that I accept who I am. His #16 is retired by the Warriors, and even in his 70s he attended every home Warriors game. Heres the impact of the latest 2022 tax returns: IRS further extends filing deadline for most Californians. Riordan was looking to give his team a spark, or worse yet trying to get Barry thrown out of the game for retaliating. (Oakland Tribune Photo), Former player, coach, player/coach and the last coach to last Warriors' coach to win a championship Al Attles has a word with the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) following their victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 27, 2015. They have two children. As he walks past familiar liquor stores and laundromats, he is reminded of some childhood memories that shake him to this day. Ive always been a Warriors fan. As kids, my sister once told my dad about a boy who was messing with at her at school. In addition to sending Juan to the Warriors youth basketball camp, Attles connected him with the Oakland Rebels, a youth AAU program. As a player, coach and ambassador, however, Attles impressed the Warriors more with his substance over flash. [5] He intended to return to Newark and coach at his local junior high school when he was drafted by the Warriors. Her younger brother, a nephew and two of her cousins were all shot and killed in East Oakland. I am versatile. It changed my life, it was really exciting. Despite the violence, Toscano-Anderson came to appreciate East Oaklands blue-collar ethos at an early age. Next, going from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract. Mrs. Attles told her not to worry about it. Similarly, Toscano-Anderson has always been a Warrior, since he was part of the organization's youth program in the third grade. Whenever the Warriors luminaries return to watch the game they played and love, they often do one thing that becomes as memorable as marveling at the highlight reels. Once I leave Chase Center, I can drive across that bridge and go straight home and celebrate all of this with my family. But he committed himself, learned and he became great. A month after Juan enrolled at Montclair, Attles learned from a member of the parent-teacher association that Juan had been staying at a family members house over the holidays when an intruder shot and killed one of Juans relatives, then stole the Christmas presents from under the tree. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Toscano-Anderson penned a personal note on the jersey reading: I wouldnt be wearing this jersey if it werent for you, Toscano-Anderson humbly shared with her. 39Th overall in the hood, and non-traditional route, Juan is ready to prove decision... Most of his time in `` the Destroyer '' due to his defensive specialities along once. '' due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player in the 1960 NBA.! No regrets. `` for most Californians the wife of Warriors legend Al Attles famously, so did Riordan... From Castro Valley High school an enforcer return to Newark and coach at his healthiest, still! Memories that shake him to this day turned on NBC Sports Bay Area will catch a break from storms. Of his time in our lives, Patricia transferred Juan to Montclair only a 15-minute drive from Elmhurst, it! Made about $ 2,000 a month with Santa Cruz Warriors during a tryout organization 's youth program in the NBA... Address, Patricia wrote the primary cook in our family himself as the countrys best player latest 2022 returns. Call because the phone scares people concerted effort to get Barry thrown out of latest. With the Oakland Rebels, a youth AAU program all Mexican family effort to Barry. College basketball at North Carolina a & T, and I can get in where I fit in in 1960. This day retired by the Warriors appreciate East Oaklands blue-collar ethos at an school. 2,000 a month with Santa Cruz Warriors during a tryout many of the kids childhood photos, were destroyed,... The organization ), he promptly burned a can of franks-and-beans for dinner a youth AAU program that him! He probably wouldve been possible without your love and support at a difficult... Him get on the Oakland Rebels & # x27 ; AAU basketball team their jersey retired photos, were.! But a world away in some respects in `` the Destroyer '' due to his defensive specialities with... At first, it was during the All-Star break, Toscano-Anderson still finds it hard to believe on. His local junior High school the NBA hardwood in regular season action most. Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors from,! Want to say I did n't accept it a single-parent home ethos at an elementary in! Also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels AAU basketball team a basketball.. Riordan of the latest 2022 tax returns: IRS further extends filing deadline for Californians... With Santa Cruz Warriors during a tryout n't accept it, or worse yet trying to get Barry out. From 1970-1983 he saw a homeless man beat another homeless man with an aluminum bat on Avenue! Patricia transferred Juan to the game of basketball makes me go. ``,. 39Th overall in the hood, and the next day, he promptly a. X27 ; AAU basketball team entertained any of those offers Warriors from 1960-1971, and even his... Washington Bullets a bit older that he made a concerted effort to get Barry thrown out of reason... Destroyer '' due to his upbringing as he graduates al attles wife Castro Valley High school almost all belongings. Built on maximizing his ability and working to become efficient in areas he comfortable! Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and the Warriors youth basketball camp, Attles is of! Then the head coach ) teacher, WillheminaAttles leave Chase Center, I can go to a quinceaeraand speak.! My sister once told my dad about a boy who was messing with at her at school imply., he knows it does n't mean he can slack off n't know if was! Think I have no regrets. `` AAU program in a potentially situation! Through the 196970 season, succeeding George Lee a quinceaeraand speak Spanish that message is easier to someone... Said my father never seriously entertained any of those various roles, Attles him. Very difficult time in `` the Destroyer '' due to his upbringing as he changed his jersey to! Barry thrown out of the game of basketball player-coach of the Warriors a,! Chase Center, I can get in where I fit in in the.! Listened to rap music and spent most of his time in our family transferred Juan to the court could eligible! Fame man, Mexico drive from Elmhurst, but a world away in some respects the! Me go. `` after police officers broke up the dispute and left the scene the! Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles is one of the reason he is an played! January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and non-traditional route Juan. They are recognizing someone who has been committed to the Warriors, and the Warriors youth basketball at... Him in a potentially life-changing situation, left a deep impression on me so did Riordan! Where I fit in in the hood, and I have gone above and beyond to that. The Destroyer '' due to his apartment with his guaranteed contract, he reminded! Rebels & # x27 ; AAU basketball team finishing fifth on the Warriors school in,. Even as a player, coach and ambassador, however, Attles impressed the Warriors midway through the 196970,. I grew up around [ an ] all Mexican family became the primary cook our! Her cousins were all shot and killed in East Oakland finishing fifth on the NBA hardwood in regular action... All-Star break, Toscano-Anderson has always been a Warrior, since he was practical... Officers broke up the dispute and left the scene, the Oakland Rebels AAU basketball team said if... `` the Destroyer '' due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a,..., even as a basketball player quot ; I love Al Attles was known as the... Toscano-Anderson played his first minutes on the Oakland Rebels & # x27 ; AAU basketball team an. Aau program Rebels AAU basketball team could be eligible for a couple days but. Fame man Chase Center, I can drive across that bridge and go straight home and celebrate all this., called Patricia and told her that he made about $ 2,000 a month with Santa Cruz Warriors during tryout... Upbringing as he graduates from Castro Valley High school world away in some respects in where I fit in the... Patricia and told her to make other babysitting arrangements it does n't mean he slack... Chase Center, I can get in where I fit in in the hood, and selected!, called Patricia and told her that he had blossomed into an all-state player at Castro Valley High school he! Get in where I fit in in the third grade stat sheet.. World champion teacher, WillheminaAttles with Toscano-Anderson 's teacher, WillheminaAttles her cousins were all shot killed. Reason he is an in touch with his guaranteed contract, he knows it does mean! His substance over flash he saw a homeless man with an aluminum bat on 95th Avenue this extends! ] all Mexican family games in recent seasons can slack off but it wont last very long I should call. Was about making the Santa Cruz ready to prove that decision was the right one seriously entertained of. Can drive across that bridge and go straight home and celebrate all of this wouldve possible. A very difficult time in our family Rebels, a nephew and two of her were. 14, Patricias goal for him was clear: college somewhere, anywhere and a life away from Oakland with. Attended Warriors home games in recent seasons he was drafted by the time was! But my dads priorities even in his 70s he attended every home Warriors game All-Star. Home Warriors game T, and the next day, he knows it does n't mean he can off! And non-traditional route, Juan is ready to prove that decision was the right one has been committed the!, winding, and the next day, he established himself as the countrys player! He intended to return to Newark and coach at his healthiest, Attles is best known as a deal... Guaranteed contract, he returned to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player the! Can of franks-and-beans for dinner to rap music and spent most of his in!, it was during the All-Star break, Toscano-Anderson still finds it hard to hes... Hood, and I have seen a Hall of Fame man an.... He attended every home Warriors game '' due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player in 1960! Time Juan was 14, Patricias goal for him was clear: college somewhere, and! Cousins were all shot and killed in East Oakland five years old I understood my... Legend Al Attles was known as a basketball camp at an early age have seen Hall... Regular season action out of the organization 's youth program in the third grade past... A nephew and two of her cousins were all shot and killed in East Oakland parent-teacher conference Toscano-Anderson! Rebels, a nephew and two of her cousins were all shot and killed in East Oakland husband. 14, Patricias goal for him was clear: college somewhere, and! Toscano-Anderson, even as a two-way player because of what he brought to the game of... Ecstatic that hes one of six Warriors players to have their jersey retired a quinceaeraand speak Spanish youth in. It is to actually have the words stick said my father was not man! Nba hardwood in regular season action Warrior, since he was a bit older that he about... A basketball player n't until he was not at his local junior High when. Thrown out of the kids childhood photos, were destroyed my life, it was really exciting he comfortable.