Warriors pay emotional tribute to late Alvin Attles featuring Wilt Chamberlain’s words about team’s ‘man of character’

THE Golden State Warriors have paid an emotional tribute to the late franchise legend Alvin Attles, who died aged 87 on Tuesday.

In a special video, the NBA team included touching words from another Warriors great, Wilt Chamberlain, about Golden State's ex-point guard, coach, executive, and ambassador.

The video, published after the Warriors confirmed Attles' death on Wednesday, started with historical footage of the New Jersey native walking into the team's practice facility.

He stopped to look at a banner celebrating the team's 1975 NBA championship, hanging on the wall alongside the franchise's retired jerseys — including his own.

Chamberlain, who died in 1999, could then be heard speaking about his former teammate's character in an interview from years ago.

"Nobody that I've ever met in my life has a dislike for Al Attles," the legendary center said.

"And I think that that's totally unique, especially in our game of professional sports, because the man, above all, is a man of character."

Next, the video moved on to profile Attles with Warriors announcer Bob Fitzgerald serving as the narrator.

It featured interviews with the 6-foot-1 guard, highlights from his playing days, and his 2019 Hall of Fame induction speech.

Some of the clips showed him sharing a laugh with modern-day Golden State stars, including Steph Curry and Draymond Green.

Head coach Steve Kerr made an appearance, speaking to Attles' legacy of serving as the "face of our franchise" for years.

The video ended with the initial shot of him at the practice facility and then walking off the screen.

Attles died surrounded by his family at his San Francisco Bay Area home, the Warriors said in a statement.

He spent his entire 11-season career with the organization, which he joined two years before it moved from Philadelphia to Northern California in 1962.

His defensive prowess and tenacity on the court earned him the nickname The Destroyer.

The North Carolina A&T product was the team's second-leading scorer with 17 points on the night Chamberlain put up his historic 100-point performance against the New York Knicks in 1962.

Nobody that I've ever met in my life has a dislike for Al Attles

Attles served as the Warriors head coach between 1970-1983, leading them to their first-ever championship in the 1975 NBA Finals.

He remains the franchise's winningest head coach with 557 victories.

Attles served in various roles for Golden State for over 60 years.

It marks the longest stint with a single franchise for a single person in NBA history.

"Alvin leaves behind a profound legacy within the game of basketball and the Bay Area community, but especially as a family man and humanitarian," the Warriors said in the announcement of his death.

"We mourn his loss alongside his wife, Wilhelmina, son Alvin, and all who knew and loved him."