His steaks were tender, his gumbo was excellent, and his breakfasts were legendary. pizza favorite shuts down after 13 years, plus more Bay Area S.F. 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. Jersey No. We were just so hurt, the staff and I, that a kid would be exposed to that, Attles said. I tried to provide a shoulder, just extra love and attention.. I heard that message on more Saturday mornings than I can recall. He rushed from his interview and was soon nose -to-nose with the policeman. Youre running into all these different monsters, only theyre things like gangs and drive-by shootings.. Attles was replaced by Johnny Bach for the last 21 games of the 197980 NBA season (a season in which the Warriors finished tied for last place), though he returned for the next season (Bach would become Attles's permanent successor after 1983). Coming up in the part of the town that I came up in, it almost feels like youre in that book, Where the Wild Things Are, Toscano-Anderson said. However, sometimes there is still an internal struggle figuring out where you belong and how you identify. 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. Just being from Oakland, I feel like its embedded in me, he said in his Warriors Player Profile. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. He tries to impact the game the same way Green does -- by doing a bit of everything. After police officers broke up the dispute and left the scene, the man returned. It wouldn't matter if he was living there or pursuing his basketball dreams elsewhere -- Oakland was always home. He's ready to pay it back to his mother -- the woman who gave him everything -- and pay it forward to his siblings. My father is as humble as they come. 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 can get in where I fit in in the hood, and I can go to a quinceaeraand speak Spanish. That was my first basketball camp, its propelled me to where I am today.. It's another experience I share in common with him, often being told I acted or sounded "too white" to be Black. Patricia wascalled into a parent-teacher conference with Toscano-Anderson's teacher, WillheminaAttles. Many of Juans new classmates had parents who were doctors or lawyers. "He just brings that energy and juice to every moment that he comes into the game. 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 . In class, his voice barely rose above a whisper. Alvin, wake up! When his mom moved back to Castro Valley when he was in fifth grade, he refused to leave East Oakland. It was quite the homecoming. It has been his entire life, as he grew up on 95th Avenue in East Oakland. Because of those various roles, Attles is one of six Warriors players to have their jersey retired. 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. A life-changing signature," Toscano-Anderson said in a Zoom press conference Thursday evening. Attles joined the then-Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. At that time, I could see that Juan loved sports. 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. Because of those varying roles, Attles will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor on Sept. 6. Even then, he knew that suburbia didnt suit him. There was a sadness in his eyes. The time he saw a homeless man beat another homeless man with an aluminum bat on 95th Avenue. But before he could play in a preseason game, Toscano-Anderson had to complete what has become a team tradition at the annual Open Practice: he had to sing. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? At that time, the only NBA player he knew about was Allen Iverson.". Tough. Now that I have this opportunity to play for the Warriors what I plan to do is just be me: be a great teammate, be the hardest playing guy on the floor, whatever it takes to win. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Hall of Famer Al Attles returned to Oracle Arena at long last. 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. "I knew that I was Mexican. I paint the city, man, Toscano-Anderson said. Although his role has greatly changed, we now happily assume the role of caregivers to the man who has given so much to so many. "She never mentioned Mr. Attles was her husband, and I mean, I knew [who] the Warriors were, but I didn't know any of that," Patricia said. Toscano-Anderson was introduced to basketball, specifically Warriors basketball when Wilhelmina Attles -- wife of Warriors legend Al Attles and Toscano-Anderson's former teacher at Stonehurst Elementary School -- got him involved with the Warriors' youth program. She did her best to provide for her children, but it never was easy to balance being a solo parent while maintaining a job in social work to support them. My mom suggested I gather all of my fathers trophies and momentoes, so I grabbed as many as I could and began rushing back and forth to the car. Although the American team was full of G League players, Mexico came out on top. "I'm super excited, obviously for myself to be on the team and continue to play basketball, but this is a life-changing contract. Toscano-Anderson penned a personal note on the jersey reading: I wouldnt be wearing this jersey if it werent for you, Toscano-Anderson humbly shared with her. (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. An armed policeman spotted us running around and forcefully grabbed hold of me. He retired as a player after the 197071 season, and stayed on as head coach, guiding the Rick Barry-led Warriors to the 1975 NBA championship over the heavily favored Washington Bullets, making him the second African-American coach to win an NBA title (the first was Bill Russell). . 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. Some players play hungry; Juan plays like a guy whos starving, Warriors guard Mychal Mulder said. With Ray likening Attles on-court intensity to a combination of Dennis Rodman or Russell Westbrook, the Warriors leaned on Attles to make hustle plays and knock out his opponents. He needed an outlet.. HIs wise counsel, his unwavering loyalty, his great sense of humor, his deep compassion for others. In an effort to recognize the meaningful impact Mrs. Attles had on his life, Toscano-Anderson surprised his former teacher at her home with a framed, autographed jersey. 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. 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. As Toscano-Anderson said, money has never been the driving factor for him. On April 6, 2019, Attles was chosen as a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? I was 10 years old or so and ran around playing tag in the locker room with my cousins Bernard and Kevin. Attles coaching credentials went beyond on-court accomplishments. Just as he was starting to contemplate life without basketball, he got a call from the Mexican national team, which wanted to fly him to Mexico City for a tryout. He won an NBA championship in 1975, which made him the second African-American coach to do so, joining Bill Russell. The Jersey Jet) Position: Point Guard Shoots: Right 6-0 , 175lb (183cm, 79kg) More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Hall of Fame 16 16 16 SUMMARY Career G 711 PTS 8.9 TRB 3.5 AST 3.5 FG% 45.1 FT% 63.2 PER 11.3 WS 36.5 Al Attles Overview Game Logs Game-by-game stat line for the player 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63 Fell in love. Steve (Kerr) has never made me feel like I was on a two-way. He became the first Warriors Basketball Camp alumni to play for the Dubs, and the third product of the camps to play in the NBA. The court was renamed as Al Attles Court. His drive to get better also is intact. Toscano-Anderson joined the 2018-19 training camp roster of the Santa Cruz Warriors, G League affiliate of Golden State, as a local tryout player. After finishing fifth on the Warriors all-time games played list (711), he transitioned into coaching the organization. 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. 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. The doctor asked Patricias family whom he should save, if it came down to a choice: mother or son. Hes had a fighting spirit since the moment he came into the world, Patricia said. I still remember that camp like it was last week Warriors Camp meant a lot. For the next year, Patricia and her two youngest kids ping-ponged between relatives houses and budget motels, unsure where theyd sleep most nights. Coach Steve Kerr rocked a retro-style suit in Attles' honor, sighing and saying after the game, "Polyester, 100 percent polyester. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Stephen Curry has not only led a Warriors resurgence since entering the league, he has changed the game with his long-distance shooting. He poured his heart, body and soul into it., WARRIORS HQ PODCAST: Be sure to visit our podcast page at mercurynews.com. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. She just changed my life, Toscano-Anderson shared. 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. A Warriors Outsiders segment was detailing Toscano-Andersons rise with Golden State. I'm from Oakland.". "I always wanted to walk onto that court donning an NBA jersey," Toscano-Anderson said. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the 1960 NBA draft. But there were complications. Attles worked with the PTA to raise money to replace all the stolen gifts. This happened once he transferred schools after having a knife pulled on him in second grade. They have two children. He was one of the first African-American head coaches in the NBA. 95 jersey, the highest number in Warriors history, is a nod to his grandfathers home at 95th Avenue and A Street in East Oaklands Elmhurst neighborhood. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey and North Carolina A&T State University. I cant wait to see his Hall of Fame ring and Hall of Fame blazer. Before Letourneau joined The Chronicle, he covered the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian. I love who I am. The path from Warriors Basketball Camp to the NBA for Toscano-Anderson was far from seamless. Before Fame She named him Juan. 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. "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. A week before Juan was killed, Patricia had learned she was pregnant with her second child. And playing alongside players such as Steph Curry and Draymond Green and seeing the championship trophies the Warriors won without him is constantly humbling him and serves as reminders as to what level he wants to reach. But he was one. I am excited to be in Springfield. "I'll take care of it. He walks a little crookedly, and he struggles with his memory sometimes. (By Dino Vournas/Straff Archives), Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles rejoices. "Hes done everything weve asked and more," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. I was just like, This is insane, Toscano-Anderson said. Using her sisters address, Patricia transferred Juan to Montclair only a 15-minute drive from Elmhurst, but a world away in some respects. Despite being a fan though, Toscano-Anderson did not play basketball early in life. Golden State Warriors | His top choice was Cal in nearby Berkeley, but his mother, desperate for him to get as far away from East Oaklands streets as possible, persuaded him to pick the Wisconsin school. As Toscano-Anderson said, he didn't ever believe he'd play for the same team he grew up cheering on. The Warriors were longshots to beat the Washington Bullets. Several teams came looking to throw big money at him, hoping they would lure him away with more than Mr. Meuli could offer. 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. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Outside of his family, most of the people he interacted with were Black. Attles was known as "The Destroyer" due to his defensive specialities along with once punching a player in the jaw. During the 198384 NBA season, Attles worked as the Warriors' general manager. So much so, Toscano-Anderson went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, and not for any lack of talent, but by his own admission he did not even submit his name for the draft. Though it is uncommon for NBA players to wear numbers that high, the 95 carried significant meaning for him: Toscano-Andersons grandfather emigrated to Oakland from Mexico and bought house on 95th Avenue and A Street in East Oakland. Patricia explained to Mrs. Attles that while she'd love for her son to be involved, but she simply didn't have the money for it. His wife, Wilhelmina, son, and Hall of Famer Rick Barry represented him during an on-court tribute after the first quarter. Beyond that, Attles didnt know much. Teacher and student lost touch, however, when he moved on to Montera Middle School. Sure, he made up those scenarios in his head but didn't think they'd become reality. Golden State Warriors | Juan Toscano-Anderson loves letting people know where hes from, down to the block. That's when fate intervened. Do you understand me? he barked at the trembling guard, who apologized and slunk away. A mechanical engineer, he raised four kids as a single father and tried to shield them from the gang violence overtaking the surrounding streets. (D. Ross Cameron/Staff Archives), Golden State Warriors' legend Alvin Attles ackowledges the crowd as Nate Thurmond, left, looks on during a special tribute to Attles as part of the NBA Hardwood Classics Month during the game agaInst the Milwaukee Bucks in the first half of an NBA game at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011. Seeing somebody from Oakland, it probably gives them a little more inspiration and a little more motivation like this guys where Im from, he grew up in the same neighborhood I grew up in.. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. He was just 19. As a player, coach and ambassador, however, Attles impressed the Warriors more with his substance over flash. A little-known story is that after winning the championship in 75, my father was a hot coaching commodity. Despite the violence, Toscano-Anderson came to appreciate East Oaklands blue-collar ethos at an early age. 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. Really? The Bay Area will catch a break from winter storms for a couple days, but it wont last very long. To her surprise, she was having a boy. So needless to say, basketball and the Bay Area are big parts of his life. She noticed that he seemed to be happiest when he was playing basketball in the schoolyard. 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. Al Attle's wife Wilhemina with children Erika and Alvin Jr. watch Game 4 of the championship series against the Washington Bullets May 25, 1975 (Photo by Terry Schmitt/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) DETAILS Restrictions: Contact your local office for all commercial or promotional uses. When he was 7, his mom saved enough money to relocate to Castro Valley, a suburb free of many of her old neighborhoods hardships. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. That is the Oakland seeping out of Toscano-Anderson's pores. I hated to hear it then, but I grew to understand, my father was extolling the value of hard work. Toscano-Anderson could have been among them. He also serves as a team ambassador. The Warriors have invited various luminaries, including Barry, Mullin, Sleepy Floyd, Marreese Speights and Jason Richardson for Sundays game against the Los Angeles Clippers, which marks the final regular-season game at Oracle Arena. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the . "It's God-sent for sure. That yellow, single-story house with a lime tree in the front yard has long been a family haven. As the years passed, Attles often wondered what had become of the meek boy with the cornrows and the Larry Hughes jersey. There, Al Attles often sits on a chair. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Beyond Attles No . You hardly feel out of place. A native of Oakland, Toscano-Anderson is uniquely tied to the Golden State Warriors. The team that selected him was the then Philadelphia Warriors. But what he brings to this team extends far beyond what the stat sheet shows. Juan Toscano-Anderson, even as a child, always appreciated his mother, Patricia, raising him in a single-parent home. If anything, the real work starts now. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? I knew my family was Mexican. Steph Curry takes encouraging step in lead-up to return, though timetable still unknown. So, the Warriors themselves, for what they are, they've given me dreams. His competitiveness always is on full display -- perfectly depicted in the play against the Boston Celtics that resulted in him needing 27 stitches in his head. As a teacher, you spend so much time around these kids that you know what they need at various times, said Attles, who watches every Warriors game to cheer for Toscano-Anderson. A film he wrote . 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. [9] He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. She thanked Attles for all shed done for Juan in third grade and told her that he was about to graduate from Marquette with a bachelors degree in criminology. And most famously, so did Mike Riordan of the Washington Bullets. And actually, that's what I'm about to go do. Thats what kind of jump started me playing basketball. Alvin Attles wife she was my third grade teacher and I was playing soccer prior to that put me into a Warriors Camp. Yes, the wife of Warriors legend Al Attles. Though Patricia was three years older, she had viewed Juan as her protector. A few lucky ones would be invited to training camp with a chance to join the roster. As a youth, Toscano-Anderson was a Warriors Basketball Camp participant, officially becoming the first Golden State Warriors player to have participated in the franchises youth basketball program. He is an actor, known for Inside Moves (1980), The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame. After a long, winding, and non-traditional route, Juan Toscano-Anderson played his first minutes on the NBA hardwood in regular season action. SPRINGFIELD, MASS. The lone constant during a journey that included stops in Mexico and Santa Cruz was his unparalleled effort. Following a short stint as the Warriors general manager in 1983-84, Attles retired and became a regular fixture at Warriors home games. Al Attles with Ben Trefny The Warriors just won their fourth NBA title in eight years - we hear from the man who coached them to their first title here back in 1975, former Warriors head coach Al Attles. He plans on starting with getting his brother a car for his 16th birthday. I love it here. Al Attles is best known as a Basketball Player. One would think, such brushes with greatness might change a person. (Staff Archives), Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles on the sidelines. He was there when Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962. She also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels' AAU basketball team. Attles coached the Warriors until 1983, compiling a 557518 regular-season record (588548 including playoffs) with six playoff appearances in 14 seasons. But after he came home from practice earlier that day complaining of knee pain, Patricia had given him Tylenol with Codeine. Al Attles, NBA player. Toscano-Anderson still plays with that same mindset in the NBA. But my dads priorities even in a potentially life-changing situation, left a deep impression on me. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Juan's third-grade teacher, Wilhelmina Attles -- wife of Warriors legend Al Attles -- set him up at a basketball camp. Either before the game or a during a timeout, they walk toward the concourse atop the lower bowl. Macario had bought the house in 1970 after moving to Oakland, where a couple of his sisters had settled, from the Mexican state of Michoacan. The boy bothering my aunt found that out the hard way. Toscano-Anderson was introduced to basketball in the third grade at Oakland's Stonehurst Elementary School by his then-teacher Wilhelmina Attles, who is a former Upsala College basketball star and also the wife of Warriors legend and Hall of Famer Al Attles. BARTs second Transbay Tube could get quashed as planners scale back S.F. Toscano-Anderson grew up in a similar situation, only with his Mexican roots. What Attles didnt know then was that Toscano-Anderson was homeless. Mrs. Attles told her not to worry about it. We knew what we were doing.. Mrs. Attles was right: Toscano-Andersonwas happiest when he was playing basketball in the yard at Stonehurst Elementary. The former Warriors general manager, coach and player hadn't been around much at all this season because of health issues. I'm just Juan, the biracial guy. She and Kansas City . I just, I was living in urban culture. After the Warriors went 48-34 in the 1974-75 season, Attles coached the Warriors to their first NBA championship in 1975 by upsetting the Washington Bullets in a four-game Finals sweep. I look forward to meeting so many idols from my youth. Attles and his wife, Wilhelmina, reside in Oakland and have two adult children, Alvin III and Erica. For the rest of the school year, she made herself available to Juan anytime he needed her. Courtesy of Juan Toscano-Anderson's family. I greatly anticipate my father becoming immortalized. Heres why California has seen so much active weather. I dont take any of that for granted., Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. You don't have to look deep to figure out why the Warriors decided to convert Toscano-Anderson's two-way contract to a standard one. He joined the Oakland Rebels AAU team (now known as Team Lillard), and played for Castro Valley High School. Jeff Mullins and . "To be. 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