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. It was the same at home. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Patricia wascalled into a parent-teacher conference with Toscano-Anderson's teacher, WillheminaAttles. "I'm from the Bay Area," he said back in March before quickly revising himself,"Wait, I'm not from the Bay. Alvin Austin Attles Jr. (Destroyer. 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.. . Like, let's do it, as opposed to just beating up on the kids at school and in my class all the time. 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. (Ray Chavez/Staff Archives). He's ready to pay it back to his mother -- the woman who gave him everything -- and pay it forward to his siblings. I knew who I was. Yes, the wife of Warriors legend Al Attles. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? 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 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. Tuesday, February 12, 2013. . Lamb chops.. During the 198384 NBA season, Attles worked as the Warriors' general manager. But he committed himself, learned and he became great. Hes here, and hes making his presence felt.. He needed an outlet.. Juan, he said, had a real future in basketball. 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. 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 . There, Al Attles often sits on a chair. police arrest 2 teens suspected in brutal attack near Dolores Park, a hero of sorts to Mexicans and Mexican Americans. In 2014, Attles was the recipient of the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Awardan annual basketball award given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame to an individual who has contributed significantly to the sport of basketball, the award is the highest and the most prestigious honor presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame other than enshrinement. He thanked Attles again Thursday, noting, "She just changed my life." 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). I hit all my spots.. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! "I need to raise the bar. 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. As he walks past familiar liquor stores and laundromats, he is reminded of some childhood memories that shake him to this day. 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. Toscano-Anderson was born and raised in East Oakland. "I'm in tune with both of my heritages, and I love that about myself. This happened once he transferred schools after having a knife pulled on him in second grade. In my case, I was raised in a predominantly white family and went to a predominantly white school. I vividly remember racing to my parents home under ashen clouds, sirens filling the air. The racket she caused made my father get up to ask her what was wrong. "I'm sure there were some more opportunities out there for me, but this is home for me. I just didnt want him to go to the party. Juan Toscano-Andersons uncle Macario Toscano Jr. (center left) takes a photo with family members outside Toscano-Andersons childhood home in Oakland. Click here if you are unable to view this gallery on a mobile device. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. I just love to compete," Toscano-Andersonsaid. He was born in Newark, New Jersey. My dad never looked for trouble, but he would fight for his family. 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. After a home game last month, he returned to his apartment with his girlfriend and turned on NBC Sports Bay Area. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Follow Bay Area News Group Warriors beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. And Toscano-Anderson has a similar tenacity, grit and hustle. After police officers broke up the dispute and left the scene, the man returned. Seventeen days after her due date, Patricia went into labor. His career was built on maximizing his ability and working to become efficient in areas he wasnt comfortable. My mother, Wilhelmina, worked full time as a schoolteacher (almost forty years). "To be. At first, it was about making the Santa Cruz Warriors during a tryout. [4] He has a bachelor's degree in Physical Education and History along with a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Outside of his family, most of the people he interacted with were Black. Many people see only his accomplishments as a player, coach, and executive. 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. Oakland is home to Juan Toscano-Anderson. 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. pizza favorite shuts down after 13 years, plus more closings, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). I think it's the best of both worlds.". ", Earlier in his life, it was easier for Toscano-Anderson to identity as Black because of his surroundings. "I think I have gone above and beyond to show that I accept who I am. Whenever issues arose in the neighborhood, it was Juan who defended her. I love the Bay, I love the Warriors.". 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. Al Attles Basketball Player #173216 Most Popular Boost Birthday November 7, 1936 Birthplace Newark , NJ Age 86 years old Birth Sign Scorpio About Point guard who starred for the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and coached the team from 1970-1983. Once I leave Chase Center, I can drive across that bridge and go straight home and celebrate all of this with my family. On March 2, 1962, he was the team's second-leading scorer with 17 points on the night Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points. Kerr wore a 1970s style suit similar to what Attles wore on the sideline. 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. At that time, the only NBA player he knew about was Allen Iverson.". He hadnt known how to cook, just as he hadnt known how to coach when Franklin Mieuli asked him to take charge of the Warriors. Fell in love. A few lucky ones would be invited to training camp with a chance to join the roster. A week before Juan was killed, Patricia had learned she was pregnant with her second child. (Staff Archives), Oakland, CA Circa 1980 - Al Attles on the sidelines of a Golden State Warriors Basktball game. When he was 7, his mom saved enough money to relocate to Castro Valley, a suburb free of many of her old neighborhoods hardships. He believed he owed the franchise that believed so much in him. "I would say, like at home, it was just like all Mexican traditions. Obviously a smart, smart player. So needless to say, basketball and the Bay Area are big parts of his life. If anything, the real work starts now. Mrs. Attles told her not to worry about it. 2023 Getty Images. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. Attles became an assistant coach in 1968, while still a player. [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. Ive talked to the late Maurice Lucas, Lenny Wilkens, Oscar Robertson and countless other players from his era. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. 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. (Ron Riesterer / Oakland Tribune Staff Archives), Oakland, CA February 13, 1976 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles at a press conference. Similarly, Toscano-Anderson has always been a Warrior, since he was part of the organization's youth program in the third grade. As Toscano-Anderson said, the team never treated him as a two-way player because of what he brought to the court. "To just have some better competition, there were a lot of kids there that were older than me, and that were actually pursuing basketball and had game. I'm super proud of that.". Toscano-Anderson's mother, Patricia, tried her best to flip the narrative for Juan and his siblings. But my dads priorities even in a potentially life-changing situation, left a deep impression on me. "I was enjoying basketball, and that's what I do this for, to just enjoy the game," Toscano-Anderson said. HIs wise counsel, his unwavering loyalty, his great sense of humor, his deep compassion for others. Draymond Green explains his issue with Black History Month: Why do we get the shortest month? 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. He was there when Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962. He was one of the first African-American head coaches in the NBA. 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. It was not only a momentous occasion in his basketball career, but a culmination of events that are almost hard to believe. Jeff Mullins and . Though Patricia was three years older, she had viewed Juan as her protector. To her surprise, she was having a boy. The Bay Area is catching a break from winter storms. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! It's also in Mexico. At that time, I could see that Juan loved sports. You can waste them both.. They've been here ever since. During the teams first public event at the newly opened Chase Center he had to take the mic and perform for the fans in attendance. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. And most famously, so did Mike Riordan of the Washington Bullets. He joined the Oakland Rebels AAU team (now known as Team Lillard), and played for Castro Valley High School. The time he saw a homeless man beat another homeless man with an aluminum bat on 95th Avenue. He loved it. Alvin, my father yelled, stopping me in my tracks. It wouldn't matter if he was living there or pursuing his basketball dreams elsewhere -- Oakland was always home. His #16 is retired by the Warriors, and even in his 70s he attended every home Warriors game. The team that selected him was the then Philadelphia Warriors. 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. My mother fielded many of the phone calls from other NBA teams executives, and watched the offers come in. 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. "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 . He performed so well that it prompted a last-minute trade of six-year NBA veteran Terrence Jones in order to make a roster spot for Toscano-Anderson. He shot and killed Juan on 92nd Avenue. Friday, the basketball Hall Of Fame will confirm what weve all known all along. 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. 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. One of those games included a USA-Mexico match. Really? 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). I love it here. His work has been honored by APSE, CNPA and the Professional Basketball Writers Association. Then, it also appears inevitable they will honor Attles. They swept them. He listened to rap music and spent most of his time in "the hood.". In the decade since Toscano-Anderson got that tattoo as a junior at Castro Valley, he had reasons to believe he might not be so special. I'm from Oakland.". I dont take any of that for granted., Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. It also unlocked his passion for basketball. When Toscano-Anderson shops at the Costco in San Leandro, strangers often thank him for organizing two protests in Oakland last spring against social injustice and police brutality. I know I am Mexican. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, San Francisco, CA - Circa 1969 to 1971: Al Attles, #16, makes the jump during a San Francisco Warriors verus Los Angeles Lakers game. 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. A Warriors Outsiders segment was detailing Toscano-Andersons rise with Golden State. Ever! 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. And Toscano-Anderson used that as constant motivation to be at his best. "Juan didn't know either. Work to make people respect you, even if you cant do something for them.. "I never imagined it being a Warrior jersey. 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