My mother, Wilhelmina, worked full time as a schoolteacher (almost forty years). "I can't envision anyone playing better than Barry is right now," says Warrior Coach Al Attles, whose surprising club leads the Pacific Division despite the loss over the past six months of Nate Thurmond, Clyde Lee, Jim Barnett, Joe Ellis and Cazzie Russell through trades, release or the kind of front-office ineptitude that once made the . I'm from Oakland.". He took over as player-coach for the last season of his career, and remained as head coach until 1983 (save for 21 games in 1980). Five months later, one of his closest cousins, Eric Toscano, was shot and killed while celebrating his 18th birthday at his home on Ney Avenue in East Oakland. 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. 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. My mother fielded many of the phone calls from other NBA teams executives, and watched the offers come in. The team that selected him was the then Philadelphia Warriors. Those trophies and basketballs dont mean anything. His ability to guard multiple positions, find open shooters and ratchet up the tempo intrigued Golden State, which had helped hasten the leagues trend toward a positionless brand of basketball. (Karl Mondon/Staff Archives), Oakland, CA January 31, 1989 - Golden State Warriors head coach Al Attles in his office. He plans on starting with getting his brother a car for his 16th birthday. I heard that message on more Saturday mornings than I can recall. He put everything he had into it, said Warriors guard Rick Barry, who both players with Attles (1965-67) and played for Attles (1974-78). Despite being a fan though, Toscano-Anderson did not play basketball early in life. When Attles arranged for him to attend the Warriors youth basketball camp for free, she didnt imagine that it would start a hardwood odyssey that would culminate in a roster spot on his hometown NBA team. But as a child, it's even harder. He won an NBA championship in 1975, which made him the second African-American coach to do so, joining Bill Russell. 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. I knew who I was. He is married to Willhemina Rice. 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. I remember attending an NBA all-star game one summer at The Forum. . 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. But even with his guaranteed contract, he knows it doesn't mean he can slack off. It was undoubtedly a full circle moment for both Toscano-Anderson and Attles, whose positive influence made an everlasting impact on the future of the Warriors forward. We were just so hurt, the staff and I, that a kid would be exposed to that, Attles said. Al's moment came at the height of the "Blaxploitation" period in American cinema when as a boy, his father took him to see Michael Schultz "Car Wash" and Sidney . Every time he walked into that building, he got a taste of what he wanted his future to be. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. He also serves as a team ambassador. There is a probably apocryphal story to the effect that one of the sportswriters covering the game began his filing with the lede "HERSHEY, Pa. Wilt Chamberlain and Al Attles combined for 117 points last night as the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the New York Knicks 169147." Attles was known as "The Destroyer" due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player in the jaw. Oakland is no stranger to people with mixed backgrounds. He was one of the first African-American head coaches in the NBA. You can waste them both.. The path from Warriors Basketball Camp to the NBA for Toscano-Anderson was far from seamless. The Hall of Fame honor comes 59 years after Alvin Austin Attles, Jr. was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Warriors out of North Carolina A&T. He will turn 83 in November. It was 20 years ago when teacher Wilhelmina Attles, wife of former Warriors star player and coach Al Attles, encouraged Toscano-Anderson to play basketball. When Patricias salary from teaching violence-prevention skills to juvenile offenders wasnt enough to cover the rent, she and her kids stayed with her father, Macario Toscano. Now on that standard contract, Juan is ready to prove that decision was the right one. When he is not watching the game, Attles is catching up with a former Warriors teammate or fan. Fueled by the desire to land a college scholarship and help his mom, Toscano-Anderson blossomed into a four-star recruit. Twenty years ago, Juan Toscano-Anderson was initially introduced to basketball by his third grade teacher, Wilhelmina Attles, wife of Hall of Famer and Warriors legend Alvin Attles. 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. Toscano-Anderson contains a similar fire to that of Draymond Green, who's considered the heartbeat of the team. But does that mean he was a Warriors fan growing up? That's the first step, I've gotten through the first step to put myself in a situation to be here for another year, so now I'm working to continue and have longevity in this league.". The Bay Area is catching a break from winter storms. None of this wouldve been possible without your love and support at a very difficult time in our lives, Patricia wrote. Patricia was a single mother of four. Just being from Oakland, I feel like its embedded in me, he said in his Warriors Player Profile. We will forever be grateful.. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! He played overseas, joining the Mexican national basketball team in 2016 at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and then in Mexico and Venezuela from 2016 to 2018. Juan Toscano-Anderson loves letting people know where hes from, down to the block. In class, his voice barely rose above a whisper. 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. Toscano-Anderson could have been among them. That yellow, single-story house with a lime tree in the front yard has long been a family haven. "Even with knowing that final part of the play, I would still make the same play 10 times out of 10," he said. And Toscano-Anderson used that as constant motivation to be at his best. My father is now 83 years old. Alvin Attles wife she was my third grade teacher and I was playing soccer prior to that put me into a Warriors Camp. It wasnt good, but my mom ate it like it was steak and lobster. Al Attles was born on November 7, 1936 in Newark, NJ. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey and North Carolina A&T State University. Through the rest of elementary and middle school, Juan split time between his grandpas home and those of his AAU coaches in Oakland, not moving to Castro Valley full-time until the summer before his freshman year of high school. And Al Attles Golden State Warriors have just won the NBA championship!. I hated to hear it then, but I grew to understand, my father was extolling the value of hard work. Toscano-Andersons No. 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. In elementary school, he was encouraged to play basketball by his former teacher Wilhelmina Attles, wife of Warriors legend and Hall of Famer Al Attles. Work to make people respect you, even if you cant do something for them.. It was from Patricia Toscano. I tried to provide a shoulder, just extra love and attention.. 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. Attles was the 39th overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft. Former Warriors head coach Al Attles attended Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, marking his first appearance at Oracle Arena in 2019. "He's been in and out of the hospital in the last few recent months," Ridder said. Steve (Kerr) has never made me feel like I was on a two-way. She named him Juan. 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. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Because of those varying roles, Attles will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor on Sept. 6. Toscano-Anderson would require resilience, a change in the NBAs style of play and some luck to go from a seldom-used college reserve to a rotation player with the Warriors. Heres why California has seen so much active weather. Ive always been a Warriors fan. A week before Juan was killed, Patricia had learned she was pregnant with her second child. Over the next three years, he established himself as the countrys best player. But it won't last long. I knew theyd knock him right out, Patricia said. Dont EVER touch my son. Juan Toscano-Andersons uncle Macario Toscano Jr. (center left) takes a photo with family members outside Toscano-Andersons childhood home in Oakland. I look forward to meeting so many idols from my youth. He also paved the way for more racial equality within the NBA coaching profession. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. could be eligible for a share of $104 million. "I think I have gone above and beyond to show that I accept who I am. As a player, coach and ambassador, however, Attles impressed the Warriors more with his substance over flash. Originally, we thought this piece was going to speak to his victories, his winning percentage, his accolades, and his achievements with the Warriors. I was 10 years old or so and ran around playing tag in the locker room with my cousins Bernard and Kevin. My father is a true example of hard work, commitment and unwavering integrity. Now, at 27, he is drawing comparisons to All-Star teammate Draymond Green for his court vision and energy. This happened once he transferred schools after having a knife pulled on him in second grade. (Jane Tyska/Staff Archives), Former Golden State Warriors head coach Al Attles attends a press conference to introduce the team's new draft picks at the team's headquarters in Oakland, Calif., Monday, June 27, 2011. Alvin, wake up! Juan often was late to school -- not because of rebellion, but because his motherwas spread thin -- and during class, he wasn't fully present. I just want to contribute to my teams success, he said. Attles and his wife, Wilhelmina, reside in Oakland and have two adult children, Alvin III and Erica. Attles was photographed at the team's downtown Oakland practice facility where a large sign honors the 74-75 Warriors. For a share of $ 104 million a week before Juan was killed Patricia... 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