<body><div>The Golden State Warriors announced the passing of franchise legend and NBA trailblazer Alvin Attles. The NBA Hall of Famer was 87 years old.Attles loved and adored his Aggie Legacy. On February 7, 2015, Attles's number 22 was retired by North Carolina A&amp;T. Alvin "Al" Attles became the first player in the history of the North Carolina A&amp;T men's basketball program to have his number retired.Former N.C. A&amp;T Men's basketball Coach Will Jones and Aggies' play-by-play Announcer, Spencer Turkin were out in sunny California for the Golden State Warriors versus the Toronto Raptors basketball game in the Chase Center. The two were in town to present N.C. A&amp;T Men's basketball legend, Alvin "Al" Attles with his retired North Carolina A&amp;T Men's basketball jersey on November 21, 2021.A historic feat as Attles was inducted into the N.C. A&amp;T Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971 but 50 years later no other Aggie Men's Basketball player will wear #22 on the basketball court. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0AIIBa_0v5kIzaR00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0AIIBa_0v5kIzaR00" width="1440" height="1800" ></figure>“The history of men’s basketball at North Carolina A&amp;T is filled with outstanding players,” said Earl M. Hilton III, A&amp;T’s director of athletics. “Mr. Attles’ contributions to Aggies basketball are consequential and enduring. For six decades as an NBA player, coach and executive, his commitment, loyalty and dedication to the Warriors organization and the surrounding community is a glowing example of the positive effects our student-athletes have on society. We are pleased to honor Mr. Attles as the first men’s player in our history to have his number retired.”Attles played for legendary A&amp;T head coach Cal Irvin from 1956-60, graduating in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and history. Attles led the Aggies to two consecutive CIAA titles in 1958 and ’59. During his playing career he scored 1,039 points in 82 games. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1960 and spent 11 with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors.He intended to return to Newark and coach at his local junior high school when he was drafted by the Warriors. He initially declined before accepting and going to training camp. His No. 16 is retired by the Golden State Warriors and his No. 22 is retired by North Carolina A&amp;T, effectively removing those numbers from being worn by anyone at these programs.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Elbkf_0v5kIzaR00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Elbkf_0v5kIzaR00" width="1440" height="1800" ></figure>Attles arrived in the NBA as a fifth-round draft pick from North Carolina A&amp;T. He was all of six feet tall and he lasted as a player on guile, a penchant for self-sacrifice and a reputation for effective aggressiveness. He always shadowed the opposition's best guard, from Bob Cousy to Oscar Robertson, playing them all over the floor, scrapping and holding, trying to pilfer an inch here and an inch there to even the odds.Former NBA Coach, Lenny Wilkens says, "but he was on you like a glove all the time. We came into the league the same year, and when he guarded me I knew I had to have my full concentration."The fights Attles got into became legend. To start with, he looked ominous. His hair was shaved close and he later added a mustache, enhancing his threatening appearance.Everyone agrees that Attles did not seek out the fights, but the results were nevertheless spectacular, probably because the only ones who had the temerity to challenge him were the league's behemoths. "He was the toughest single fighter I ever saw in the league," says Tom Meschery, then Attles' teammate. Meschery was 6'6" and bellicose, and Attles frequently would have to extricate him from fights.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ul0uq_0v5kIzaR00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ul0uq_0v5kIzaR00" width="1440" height="1800" ></figure>In 2014, Attles was the recipient of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award—an annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to an individual who has contributed significantly to the sport of basketball, the award is the highest and the most prestigious honor presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame other than enshrinement.Attles's attended every Warriors home game and he also served as a team ambassador. He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. On April 6, 2019, Attles was chosen as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.Attles had been on the Warriors' payroll in one capacity or another for 60 years, the longest uninterrupted streak of any person for one team. He is one of the last living members of the franchise who dates to their time in Philadelphia. It represented the longest active streak with one NBA franchise.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">OUR ??! Head Coach <a href="https://twitter.com/ATKoachJones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATKoachJones</a> &amp; Play-By-Play Announcer <a href="https://twitter.com/Turkin35?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Turkin35</a> presented Al Attles with his retired #22 <a href="https://twitter.com/NCATAGGIES?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NCATAGGIES</a> jersey <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChaseCenter</a> during the <a href="https://twitter.com/warriors?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@warriors</a> game last night. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGGIEPRIDE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGGIEPRIDE</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PTB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PTB</a><a href="https://t.co/Ku3RmSvOGY">pic.twitter.com/Ku3RmSvOGY</a>— NC A&amp;T Men’s Basketball (@ncatmbb) <a href="https://twitter.com/ncatmbb/status/1462778338884218884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2021</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>During his career, he played in one of the most famous games in NBA history, which occurred on March 2, 1962. Attles went 8-for-8 from the field and scored 17 points, but had his night overshadowed by teammate Wilt Chamberlain, who posted an NBA single-game record 100 points. Attles also played in two NBA Finals, 1964 and ’67, losing to the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers respectively. He ended his NBA career averaging 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.Over the final two years of his career, the 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons, Attles became a player/coach for the Warriors. He spent the next 11 seasons as head coach following his playing career. Attles’ 13-year coaching run included six playoff berths, two division titles and 557 wins, which ranks him 20th all-time in NBA history.In addition, the NBA title that eluded him as a player came his way as a head coach in 1975. Attles led the Warriors to their first NBA championship as a West Coast franchise, becoming the second African-American coach in NBA history to win a title. Attles also served as the Warriors general manager for three seasons starting in 1982. The Aggie Legend has left a blueprint for many to follow. We wish him and his family peace and condolences.Not a VIP subscriber to Ayantee? We would love to have you! Sign up now to get access to 247Sports VIP information, a Paramount subscription and everything the entire Ayantee team have to offer on all things N.C. A&amp;T State University and access to the No. 1 site covering the No. 1 HBCU in the country. Sign up to receive FREE text alerts to get breaking news on commitments, decommitments, transfers, injuries, coaching changes and much more with our NEW text alert system available to all all registered users and VIP subscribers. Want the latest news on N.C. A&amp;T delivered right to your email?To subscribe to the Aggie Pride newsletter, click here. It is free and a great way to get daily updates on N.C. 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Beloved N.C. A&T Hall of Famer and NBA legend Alvin Attles has passed

The Golden State Warriors announced the passing of franchise legend and NBA trailblazer Alvin Attles. The NBA Hall of Famer was 87 years old. Attles loved and adored his Aggie Legacy. On February 7, 2015, Attles's number 22 was retired by North Carolina A&T. Alvin \"Al\" Attles became the first player in the history of the North Carolina A&T men's basketball program to have his number retired.

The Golden State Warriors announced the passing of franchise legend and NBA trailblazer Alvin Attles. The NBA Hall of Famer was 87 years old. Attles loved and adored his Aggie Legacy. On February 7, 2015, Attles's number 22 was retired by North Carolina A&T. Alvin "Al" Attles became the first player in the history of the North Carolina A&T men's basketball program to have his number retired.

Beloved N.C. A&T Hall of Famer and NBA legend Alvin Attles has passed

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