The family has always felt that my fathers basketball contributions have been Hall Of Fame worthy. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Attles, 82, has not been at Warriors games recently this season because of what team spokesman Raymond Ridder called age-related ailments. The Warriors have invited Attles to be among the Warriors luminaries to attend Sundays game against the Clippers, which will mark the final regular-season game at Oracle Arena. Heres when rain, snow will return. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. For the next year, Patricia and her two youngest kids ping-ponged between relatives houses and budget motels, unsure where theyd sleep most nights. (Ron Riesterer / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives), Oakland, CA February 13, 1976 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles at a press conference. Golden State Warriors | Especially as he set out to start his career. Warriors come alive in third quarter to beat Portland "I can get in where I fit in in the hood, and I can go to a quinceaeraand speak Spanish. But even with his guaranteed contract, he knows it doesn't mean he can slack off. He walks a little crookedly, and he struggles with his memory sometimes. My dad paid the boy a visit. 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. Ahead of the 2018-19 season, he decided to go to the open tryouts being hosted by the G League Santa Cruz Warriors. Do you understand me? he barked at the trembling guard, who apologized and slunk away. I grew up around [an] all Mexican family. She just changed my life, Toscano-Anderson shared. He also didnt inundate us with a lot of technical things and paper work. I hated to hear it then, but I grew to understand, my father was extolling the value of hard work. The bigger picture to my father was always his family, and the Warriors had become his family. Ive talked to the late Maurice Lucas, Lenny Wilkens, Oscar Robertson and countless other players from his era. In addition to sending Juan to the Warriors youth basketball camp, Attles connected him with the Oakland Rebels, a youth AAU program. As he walks past familiar liquor stores and laundromats, he is reminded of some childhood memories that shake him to this day. His work has been honored by APSE, CNPA and the Professional Basketball Writers Association. Patricia wascalled into a parent-teacher conference with Toscano-Anderson's teacher, WillheminaAttles. [10], Attles at the Golden State Warriors Victory Parade on June 19, 2015, the night Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Al Attles, Hubie Brown recipients of 2017 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award", "50 years on, reluctant Warrior al Attles is the team's mainstay", "Al Attles, a Warrior for Life, is a Bridge to a Lone Bay Area Title", "North Carolina A&T to Retire Alvin Attles' Number", "On the occasion of his father's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, a son pays tribute", Basketball-Reference.com: Al Attles (as coach), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Al_Attles&oldid=1138383068, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 10:58. Everybody makes a mistake. Many in the Elmhurst neighborhood know that, if they need a place to stay while they get their lives back on track, Toscano-Anderson and his mom will try to help provide accommodations. (Staff Archives), Al Attles, former Golden State Warriors player and head coach, seen during an interview in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011. But I know once we return home,hell just put the ring and blazer somewhere in the back of his closet. At that time, the only NBA player he knew about was Allen Iverson.". 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. My father is now 83 years old. 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. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. Attles, barely 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, came to be known as The Destroyer. Some nights, he slept with his mom, Patricia Toscano, and sister, Ariana, in their silver sedan. (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. Golden State Warriors | "Like, wow, I get to beat all of these kids? But I never really indulged in the culture, per se. 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. For kids that are from Oakland, they can identify with me., Toscano-Anderson continued: Its not like theyre looking at the Kobe Bryants or the LeBron James. San Francisco is at its most unaffordable point in at least a decade, S.F. 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. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Despite the violence, Toscano-Anderson came to appreciate East Oaklands blue-collar ethos at an early age. I was just like, This is insane, Toscano-Anderson said. Attles was photographed at the team's downtown Oakland practice facility where a large sign honors the 74-75 Warriors. Toscano-Anderson memorialized his late cousin by getting a tattoo of 78 Erics jersey number with Oaklands Skyline High School football team on his upper left arm. Heck, he wears it on his chest and back every time he puts on his Golden State Warriors jersey. It seems hardly surprising since Attles cemented an 11-year career with the Warriors, coached them to their 1975 NBA championship and served as a longtime club ambassador. Barry, however, is less reticent, which is much of the reason he is an. Outside of his family, most of the people he interacted with were Black. Attles moved with the team to the Bay Area at the end of the 1962 season, playing until 1971. 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. Alvin, my father yelled, stopping me in my tracks. Leave it to Toscano-Anderson to make his connection to the Bay Area known through his song of choice: Thizzle Dance by the late East Bay rapper Mac Dre. I'm just Juan, the biracial guy. . Without him, she felt lost. In 29 games, Juan Toscano-Anderson has averaged 5.0 points on 52.8% shooting, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Warriors. She missed doctors appointments. We will forever be grateful.. He is the longest-serving coach in Warriors history, and also has the most wins in franchise history. I think it's just there's a difference, you know, like actually indulging in, you know, the culture to traditions, the language, all of that stuff. Patricia Toscano, who grew up in a neighborhood known to locals as the killing zone, often worried that her four kids were destined to become grim statistics. Now, at 27, he is drawing comparisons to All-Star teammate Draymond Green for his court vision and energy. "I always wanted to walk onto that court donning an NBA jersey," Toscano-Anderson said. His career was built on maximizing his ability and working to become efficient in areas he wasnt comfortable. His steaks were tender, his gumbo was excellent, and his breakfasts were legendary. I just, I was living in urban culture. "And at the end of the day, when it's all said and done, even if I fail, I can always look myself in the mirror and say I did it Juan's way. Many people see only his accomplishments as a player, coach, and executive. Leave all that. What Attles didnt know then was that Toscano-Anderson was homeless. That is the Oakland seeping out of Toscano-Anderson's pores. At that time, I could see that Juan loved sports. They swept them. Willhemina Attles, wife of Warriors Hall of Famer Al Attles, holds a mug signed by current Warrior Juan Toscano-Anderson and his third-grade classmates from back in 2002 when Attles was. But at the same time, knowing he is about to be making the most money he has ever made in his life, is a nice thought. Klay Thompson subscribes. Doing these things for his family, and simply the time he gets to spend with them, are the biggest things Toscano-Anderson had to sacrifice when he went and played overseas. Even his wife Wilhelmina is a tough competitor. My dad never looked for trouble, but he would fight for his family. 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 . Attles, 36, whose father starred for the Golden State Warriors and is now an executive with the team, is getting ready to release his first feature film.. A film set in Oakland. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Attles, one of Montclairs only African American teachers, felt an immediate kinship with Juan, who is half-Black, half-Mexican. Get the family photo albums.. "It was like something to feed off of," the Warriors forwardsaid. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 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. I just didnt want him to go to the party. On March 2, 1962, he was the team's second-leading scorer with 17 points on the night Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points. Keen members of Dub Nation likely saw a lot of Toscano-Anderson while they watched this past NBA Summer League as he played on both of the Dubs summer squads in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. Beyond that, Attles didnt know much. He tries to impact the game the same way Green does -- by doing a bit of everything. I'm glad I did everything my way.". When Al put that uniform on, he gave you everything he had, Barry said. Sure, he made up those scenarios in his head but didn't think they'd become reality. After finishing fifth on the Warriors all-time games played list (711), he transitioned into coaching the organization. Last season, the Warriors hosted Al Attles night during a regular-season game by playing a tribute video and handing out NBC Sports Bay Area celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by taking a trip south of the border to tell the story of Juan Toscano-Anderson's Mexican heritage, his experience playing professionally in Mexico and how his Oakland roots impacted his journey to the Warriors. Hes been in and out of the hospital in the last few recent months, Ridder said. Everybody always said that if Al ever got into boxing, Barry said, he probably wouldve been a world champion.. Then, one day in spring 2015, Attles received a small package containing a program from the Marquette University mens basketball program and a letter. Following a short stint as the Warriors general manager in 1983-84, Attles retired and became a regular fixture at Warriors home games. San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images. The voice of the iconic Bill King rang out. Fell in love. Nicknamed the "Destroyer",[2][3] he played the point guard position and spent his entire 11 seasons (19601971) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the team, joining it when it was still based in Philadelphia and following it to the Bay Area in 1962. I love who I am. Beyond Attles No . 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. I dont take any of that for granted., Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. I am starting to accept that and who I am. I always knew hed be a statistic, Patricia said. But it never changed Al Attles. He is an actor, known for Inside Moves (1980), The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame. He was there when Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962. That encouragement set Toscano-Anderson on a path that has eventually led with the versatile forward finding a home with his childhood team, as this past May he signed a multi-year contract with the Warriors. After police officers broke up the dispute and left the scene, the man returned. Lamb chops.. It was the same at home. Kerrs game plan, the Warriors energy, lifted the Dubs to a much-needed win The Warriors were longshots to beat the Washington Bullets. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Take the instance where Toscano-Anderson cracked his head open on a dive to save a possession in the April 15 game against the Boston Celtics as evidence. I know I am Mexican. Stephen Curry has not only led a Warriors resurgence since entering the league, he has changed the game with his long-distance shooting. 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. 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. Fueled by the desire to land a college scholarship and help his mom, Toscano-Anderson blossomed into a four-star recruit. She also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels' AAU basketball team. Draymond Green explains his issue with Black History Month: Why do we get the shortest month? It wouldn't matter if he was living there or pursuing his basketball dreams elsewhere -- Oakland was always home. Willhemina Attles, wife of Warriors Hall of Famer Al Attles, holds a mug signed by current Warrior Juan Toscano-Anderson and his third-grade classmates from back in 2002 when Attles was Toscano-Andersons teacher at Montclair Elementary School in Oakland. That was my first basketball camp, its propelled me to where I am today.. "I'll take care of it. Toward the bottom of the cup was a familiar name in green marker: Juan Toscano-Anderson, now a 6-foot-6, 213-pound backup forward for the Golden State Warriors who has become a fan favorite. It wasn't until he was a bit older that he made a concerted effort to get more in touch with his Hispanic roots. Steve (Kerr) has never made me feel like I was on a two-way. I look forward to meeting so many idols from my youth. Even when he was not at his healthiest, Attles still attended Warriors home games in recent seasons. That yellow, single-story house with a lime tree in the front yard has long been a family haven. My mom explained that her day was exhausting, and she was tired. Most Californians can put off filing taxes until Oct. 16 but should they? I dont care if he doesnt remember everything. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the . 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. A mechanical engineer, he raised four kids as a single father and tried to shield them from the gang violence overtaking the surrounding streets. Retired teacher Wilhelmina Attles was cleaning her kitchen last month when she came across a coffee mug adorned with signatures from one of her old third-grade classes at Montclair Elementary School. There were times people told Toscano-Anderson he made the wrong decision by going to the G League. Even now, 42 games into his NBA career, Toscano-Anderson still finds it hard to believe hes on the Warriors. Once he slipped up. He impressed enough that he remained with the team up through the Dubs preseason games, being amongst the first players to grace the courts at Chase Center. 95 -- to represent 95th Avenue in East Oakland. "I never imagined it being a Warrior jersey. (By Howard Erker / Oakland Tribune), Former Golden State Warriors player and coach Alvin Attles and his wife Wilhelmina wave to fans along Broadway during the team's NBA championship victory parade in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Friday, June 19, 2015. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. As a player, coach and ambassador, however, Attles impressed the Warriors more with his substance over flash. She was aware of the struggles the Toscano family was facing and wanted to help, so she suggested Toscano-Anderson enroll in the Golden State Warriors youth camp. "I was enjoying basketball, and that's what I do this for, to just enjoy the game," Toscano-Anderson said. We knew what we were doing.. Almost every off day the Warriors get, Toscano-Anderson guides his Honda east on Interstate 580, toward the streets where he learned the power of perseverance. Steph Curry takes encouraging step in lead-up to return, though timetable still unknown. Fell in love with it, said Toscano-Anderson. Toscano-Anderson has faced racism from both Mexicans and African Americans, telling him he wasn't enough of either to consider himself a Mexican man or a Black man. That got pretty boring after doing every day at recess. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Ever! In 29 games, he has averaged 5.0 points on 52.8% shooting (40% from 3-point range), 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19.1 minutes. He thanked Attles again Thursday, noting, "She just changed my life." Can slack off at that time, the Warriors all-time games played list ( 711,... Has long been a family haven albums.. `` it was n't until he was the team downtown... 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