Al Attles' number hangs in the Oracle Arena rafters, but the Warriors legend is about to receive basketball's highest honor.
Attles has been elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor, ESPN's Marc Spears reported Friday night. The Hall confirmed the news Saturday.
He is one of only five @warriors to have their number retired and has been with the Warriors' in one capacity or another for nearly 60 years. We congratulate 2014 Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award winner Al Attles. #19HoopClass
📸: Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/XXTW8cuG19— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 6, 2019
Attles spent the entirety of his playing and head-coaching career with the Warriors. He followed the franchise from Philadelphia to the Bay Area, averaging 8.9 points and 25.1 minutes per game in 711 games. The latter mark is the fifth-most in franchise history.
Attles took over as player-coach during the 1969-70 season, and continued to coach the team beyond his retirement as a player in 1971. In total, Attles coached 1,075 games with the Warriors, leading the franchise to its first NBA championship in the 1974-75 season and six playoff appearances in 14 seasons.
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Attles remained with the organization following his final season as head coach in 1982-83, and is in his 59th year with the Warriors. He is the team's longest-tenured employee, and currently serves as a community ambassador.
Al Attles, known as "The Destroyer" for his tenacious, no-nonsense approach, concluded his 11-year playing career in 1971, the last two seasons which overlapped with his appointment as player-coach in 1969-70. He remains the longest-serving coach in @warriors history (13 years). pic.twitter.com/xCf1xazs6k— NBA History (@NBAHistory) April 6, 2019
Former Kings coach Paul Westphal, current Kings general manager Vlade Divac, former Bucks guard Sidney Moncrief, former 76ers forward Bobby Jones and basketball pioneer Chuck Cooper also will join Attles in the Class of 2019. Other honorees include Bill Fitch, Jack Sikma, Teresa Weatherspoon and the Tennessee A&I teams of 1957-1959.
Attles and Co. will be enshrined into the Basketball Hall on Sept. 5-7 in Springfield, Mass.