Al Attles

American basketball player and coach

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July 19, 2026

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Al Attles was an American professional basketball player and coach, most notably associated with the Golden State Warriors. He played for the Warriors and later became their head coach, leading them to an NBA title in the 1974–75 season. This achievement made him the first African American full-time head coach to win an NBA championship. Attles was known for his coaching style and his impact on the team's history, including the development of the "Run T.M.C." era under coach Don Nelson, who also had a significant coaching career with the Warriors and other teams, known for his innovative strategies like "small ball".12

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Golden State Warriors
Former Warriors player Al Attles took over as the team’s head coach during the 1969–70 season, and he proceeded to lead the franchise for all or part of 14 seasons. In 1971 the franchise—which had been experiencing years of disappointing financial returns—relocated across the East Bay to Oakland…
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Former Warriors player Al Attles took over as the team’s head coach during the 1969–70 season, and he proceeded to lead the franchise for all or part of 14 seasons. In 1971 the franchise—which had been experiencing years of disappointing financial returns—relocated across the East Bay to Oakland…
Read More