Sports
Thank you, Al Attles. Your legacy will live on.
OAKLAND, Calif. – “Sit next to me, son.”
I will all the time miss the words of Mr. Alvin Attles.
I’ve been an enormous basketball fan since I used to be a child, growing up about 40 miles from Oracle Arena in San Jose. One of my childhood heroes was former Golden State Warriors star Sleepy Floyd. My father took me to see Warriors center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s final game at Oracle in 1989, and I also saw Michael Jordan and Dominque Wilkins of their prime as an adolescent. And it’s inevitable that as a basketball fan, with the Warriors in your backyard, especially as an African-American, you’re conversant in the story of “The Wrecker,” Alvin Attles.
Attles was the NBA’s longest-tenured worker, working with the Golden State Warriors franchise from 1960 until his death Tuesday at age 87 at his Oakland Hills home after a protracted illness. The former star point guard for historically black North Carolina A&T joined the Philadelphia Warriors as a fifth-round pick in 1960. Attles was a star point guard for 11 seasons with the Warriors, became the franchise’s first black coach and general manager and served as a community ambassador.
Attles and then-Washington Bullets head coach K.C. Jones became the primary black head coaches to face one another within the NBA Finals in 1975. Attles also became the second black coach to steer an NBA team to a title in 1975 and coached for 13 seasons. Attles still holds the Warriors record for wins as a coach (557).
“How did I end up being with the Warriors for 60 years? As I like to say, they never caught up with me,” Attles told The Undefeated from his home in 2019. “But seriously, I used to be very fortunate that every little thing was in the correct place at the correct time. There were another guys that I’d say deserved it, but for some reason they couldn’t stay. I played with some great players. I coached some great players. And I just happened to be in the correct place.
“I wasn’t the type of guy who made a lot of noise, I didn’t cause any trouble, I never got in trouble with anyone. I just came to play, and then those were the players they wanted. They didn’t want guys who made a lot of noise or anything like that.”
NBA/NBAE photos via Getty Images
Attles scored 17 points for the Philadelphia Warriors when his close friend and teammate Wilt Chamberlain scored an NBA-record 100 points against the New York Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on March 2, 1962. Like Chamberlain, Attles is within the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2014, he received the John R. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award and was named a co-inductee in 2019.
One of the things Attles was particularly happy with was his friendship with Chamberlain and the chance to play with him within the legendary game through which he scored 100 points.
“When Wilt scored 100 points, the announcer would go over the bullhorn, ‘That’s 80. … That’s 82,’” Attles told me in 2019. “And when he got near 100, not only were we concerned, but the blokes who kept the team’s scoresheet would are available and say, ‘You know, Wilt … we’re close.’ But Wilt never said, ‘Give me the ball.’ But we said, ‘Give him the ball.’
“The Knicks tried to stop him. Everybody tried to stop him. But when he did all that, they knew, hey, you can’t stop him. The only way to stop him is to keep him out of the game. Wilt Chamberlain and I once scored 117 points together. That’s a fact.”
In 2009, I moved back home to the San Francisco Bay Area to cover the NBA for Yahoo! Sports. Living in Oakland, it was only natural that I’d cover plenty of Warriors and Sacramento Kings games. Golden State happened to have a rookie named Stephen Curry. But on the time, I used to be more thrilled to see Attles sitting in press row at every Warriors home game.
I made it some extent to pay tribute to Attles at every game I attended at Oracle Arena in the course of the 2009-10 season and beyond, simply stopping to say, “How are you, Mr. Attles?” Often, his son, Alvin Attles Jr., or his grandson would sit next to him while watching the Warriors. But there have been games when he sat alone. And on those occasions when he did, he would bless me by saying, “Hey, come sit next to me, son.”
It was a fantastic honor and joy to sit down next to the coach each time. I’m sure Warriors Vice President of Communications Raymond Ridder was slightly annoyed that I left my coveted press seat empty, but he also understood the importance of sitting next to Mr. Attles. When the Warriors played, I asked the coach about black NBA pioneers like Earl Lloyd, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton and Chuck Cooper, about twiddling with Chamberlain and playing against Bill Russell, what it meant to be certainly one of the primary black NBA coaches and general managers, about coaching Rick Barry and more. When I asked concerning the Warriors back then, it was all the time positive feedback from Attles. He never said a foul word about anyone or the team.
Ultimately, those beautiful moments led to a friendship with Coach and his family. I got to spend quality time with Coach outside the sector. And his family trusted me to refer to him about his legacy while he struggled with health issues at home or at his beloved Buttercup Grill in Jack London Square in Oakland. And for that, I thank Coach and the Attles family. There aren’t many things I’ve encountered in my 25 seasons of NBA coverage which have been more meaningful than quality time with Mr. Attles.
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports
After the 2018-19 season, the Warriors moved across the Bay Bridge to San Francisco. Fortunately, the Warriors didn’t put Mr. Attles in a close-quarters seat that was removed from where the media currently resides. But as his health issues mounted, seeing him at games in recent times has been rare. His No. 16 jersey still hangs from the ceiling at Chase Center, making its presence known at Warriors games.
While Mr. Attles’ days on this earth are over, his legacy with the Warriors, the NBA, the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Bay Area and basketball lives on perpetually. Thank you, Coach.
“I could never wrap my head around how many points I was scoring,” Attles told The Undefeated in 2019. “I used to be all the time excited about whether I used to be doing the correct thing. Where was I going? Whether it was in highschool, whether it was in college, whether it was after college with the Warriors, I actually cared about doing the correct thing for other people.
“My legacy? Just do what I think is right. That’s all I do.”
NFL Hall of Fame receiver and podcast host Terrell Owens has signed with a talent agency to further strengthen his claims within the entertainment game.
According to , Owens was signed by SMAC Entertainment, headed by host and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and his business partner Constance Schwartz-Morini.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz has also joined SMAC Entertainment.
“We are excited to add TO and Jordan to the SMAC family. They are both at the top of their game and set the standard in their industry,” Schwartz-Morini said in a written statement. “TO and Jordan have already brought an infectious energy to our team, and we are excited to help them realize their vision for careers in media, business and branding.”
A five-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Owens played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. In 2018, he was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A member of the 2000 NFL All-Decade Team, Owens finished his profession with 1,078 catches for 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch and 153 touchdowns, rating third all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns.
Since retiring from skilled soccer in 2012, Owens has already made several moves. He has appeared in several movies and tv shows, including “,” and in addition had his own reality show, “, on VH1.
He currently co-hosts the podcast with former NFL player and sports analyst Shannon Sharpe.
SMAC Entertainment is home to stars similar to rapper and actor Common, Wiz Khalifa, Strahan, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders and current NFL players similar to Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf.
Sports
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker brings an NBA championship desire with his Olympic experience
The gold medal went to the USA Basketball team. Mission completed on the 2024 Paris Games. U.S. men’s basketball coach Steve Kerr just answered his final query during his final news conference on Aug. 10 after his team defeated France within the gold medal game.
However, before leaving the stage of the press conference in Paris, Kerr stopped to deliver an unsolicited message to media around the globe.
“Devin Booker is an amazing basketball player. Nobody asked about him. He was our unsung MVP. I just desired to say that,” Kerr said.
The “underrated MVP” compliment meant so much to the Phoenix Suns guard.
“It meant everything. No one really asked him,” Booker recently told Andscape. “That was probably something that was weighing on his mind throughout the entire process. A 12 months ago I said what I desired to do for this team and what we desired to do for the country.
“It was a lot larger than all of us. Survival was something we’d discuss for the remainder of our lives.
The USA Basketball team was centered around NBA star icons LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. There has also been some discussion amongst media and fans in regards to the lack of playing time for Jayson Tatum and, to a lesser extent, Tyrese Haliburton. Lost within the shuffle was the all-around, unselfish play of sharpshooter Booker wearing the armband.
Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images
Booker was fourth in scoring for the U.S., averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 assists and a couple of.2 three-pointers made early in all six Olympics, and likewise had the perfect plus/minus (plus-130) for an American. Kerr was impressed with Booker’s deal with a difficult defense, regardless that he is thought for his offense, ball movement and the way he has adjusted to not being one in every of the highest options on offense.
“I just understood what was at stake,” Booker said. “I’m proud to be from this country. I’m happy with playing basketball. Even though it wasn’t invented in America, we dominated for a very long time. Obviously the world is incredibly talented and the sport is growing, however it was just one other message to allow them to know who we’re.
Booker said he also learned in regards to the preparations from his all-star team, watching the preparations on and off the court. The 28-year-old added that he gained lifelong friendships.
“It’s cool to see that everyone has their own issues,” Booker said. “In my 10 years in the NBA, I’ve learned that you have to choose what you can use for yourself. But the level of detail, the attention to detail, the intensity – it’s all consistent across the board.”
As for Durant, Booker said the bond between the 2 Sun stars “is close and grows stronger every day.” They live about five minutes from one another within the Phoenix area and commonly spend time at home and on the road. Most recently, Booker had to steer the Suns without Durant, who was sidelined with an injury.
The amazing Durant averaged 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and three.4 assists, which were tops for the Suns. However, the 14-time NBA All-Star has been sidelined since November 8 with a left calf strain. Suns players Bradley Beal (calf) and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle) were also sidelined. The Suns are 1-5 without Durant, which incorporates 4 straight losses.
Booker and Suns sans Durant’s next rivals shall be the New York Knicks on Wednesday evening (ESPN, 10 p.m. ET). Over the last six games, Booker is averaging 24.1 points, shooting 43.2% from the sphere and making 16 of 43 three-pointers. Suns guard Tyus Jones said there was numerous pressure on Booker offensively due to the injury.
“We’re asking a lot of Book,” Jones said after Monday’s 109-99 loss to the visiting Orlando Magic. “It’s numerous pressure for him. We are very focused on it. They are physical with him, holding him and grabbing him, throwing two or three bodies at him all night long. So he’s got so much on his plate and we just need to proceed to seek out ways to get him open within the moments we will and proceed to assist him when other players are taking shots and making plays.
Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Booker currently has two Olympic gold medals, 4 NBA All-Star appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. The only thing missing from the Suns’ second-leading all-time scorer is an NBA championship. Since the Suns joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1968, they’ve yet to win a title.
After experiencing the joys of winning a gold medal, Booker as an NBA champion wants the gold Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy much more.
“Most of the guys that were there did it,” Booker said of his Olympic teammates who were NBA champions. “They were champions. This is standard for them. Anything lower than that, they need nothing to do with it. It’s contagious…
“That’s all I want. That’s all I want.”
After months of introducing the players and coaches who will participate in its inaugural season, the brand new Unrivaled 3-on-3 women’s basketball league announced its team rosters and coaching assignments on Wednesday.
Founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled consists of six teams of six players each. The league was created to offer WNBA players with a substitute for playing overseas in the course of the offseason.
Although initially announced as having 30 players, the league has since expanded to 36, which Collier attributed “above financial forecasts”. The league has announced 34 players publicly up to now.
The inaugural season of Unrivaled will begin on January 17, 2025, with all games going down in Miami. Here are the official teams for the inaugural season, as well season schedule.
Vinyl Basketball Club:
– Coach: Teresa Weatherspoon
Rose Basketball Club:
– Coach: Nola Henry
Mgła basketball club:
– Coach: Phil Handy
Lunar Owls Basketball Club:
– TBD: wild card
– Coach: DJ Sackmann
Phantom Basketball Club:
– TBD: wild card
– Coach: Adam Harrington
Laces Basketball Club:
– Coach: Andrew Wade
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