His steaks were tender, his gumbo was excellent, and his breakfasts were legendary. Next, going from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract. Alvin Attles, Actor: Inside Moves. 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. To see your child living his dream, it means everything.. "I'm super excited, obviously for myself to be on the team and continue to play basketball, but this is a life-changing contract. An armed policeman spotted us running around and forcefully grabbed hold of me. Now Toscano-Anderson is poised to become the first Oakland-born player since the early 1970s to stick on the Warriors roster for three straight seasons. Toscano-Anderson was born and raised in East Oakland. [9] He was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. As Toscano-Anderson said, he didn't ever believe he'd play for the same team he grew up cheering on. But on the blacktop at recess, Toscano-Anderson forgot all about the outside world. Toscano-Anderson grew up in a similar situation, only with his Mexican roots. 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. He is an actor, known for Inside Moves (1980), The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame. As Toscano-Anderson said, money has never been the driving factor for him. She also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels' AAU basketball team. 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. Even his wife Wilhelmina is a tough competitor. Attles was never a star in the league, yet he was an . Attles coaching credentials went beyond on-court accomplishments. And where else would he find out if he could play against the best than back home in the Bay Area? He thanked Attles again Thursday, noting, "She just changed my life." At that time, I could see that Juan loved sports. Although celebrities such as Wilt Chamberlain, Jesse Jackson, and Bill Cosby were friends of his, he never took on celebrity airs. Get the family photo albums.. Sign up for a free trial of Mark Medinas Warriors text messaging service* * *, I would go over and sit with him. What are the similarities between money and potential? While youre asleep, there is someone on the other side of the world trying to figure out a way to steal your ideas and take your money.. HIs wise counsel, his unwavering loyalty, his great sense of humor, his deep compassion for others. She noticed that he seemed to be happiest when he was playing basketball in the schoolyard. 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. She named him Juan. As a kid, Toscano-Anderson lived in five houses scattered across East Oakland. Attles moved with the team to the Bay Area at the end of the 1962 season, playing until 1971. After joining the former Philadelphia Warriors in 1960 as the clubs fifth-round draft choice, Attles became known as The Destroyer during his 11-year NBA career because of his unyielding physical presence along with 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. JTA incredibly surprises camper with free trip to Cancun camp. All she wanted was to keep him smiling. Meteorologist Gerry Daz examines why Februarys storm door was left wide open and when more Yosemite breaks snow record; park closed indefinitely, The epic California snowpack is inching toward record levels. But The Town isn't Toscano-Anderson's only home. 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. Point guard who starred for the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and coached the team from 1970-1983. They have two children. 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. "I need to raise the bar. Rather than voice her displeasure about her day in comparison to his relatively short day, she instead took her frustration out on the pots and pans in the kitchen. But what he brings to this team extends far beyond what the stat sheet shows. Oakland is no stranger to people with mixed backgrounds. There were others who said he shouldn't have gone to training camp with the Warriors last year because they didn't have an open roster spot. "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. Attles became an assistant coach in 1968, while still a player. Attles, one of Montclairs only African American teachers, felt an immediate kinship with Juan, who is half-Black, half-Mexican. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the 1960 NBA draft. Patricia Toscano, mother of Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, stands outside his childhood home in Oakland. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The time when he was in the backseat of his moms car outside the McDonalds on 98th Avenue and International as men exchanged gunfire that barely missed him. I know I am Black," Toscano-Anderson revealed. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Although I never quite understood the one-half-of-one-percent phrase, at five years old I understood that my father was a practical man. On a typical day Rick and Pam Barry get up between 10 and noon in their house on Mercer Island outside of Seattle and begin their exercise routine: First, there's 15 minutes designed to develop the. Heres when rain, snow will return. [8] On February 7, 2015, Attles's number 22 was retired by North Carolina A&T, the first ever retired by the team. . 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 put everything he had into it, said Warriors guard Rick Barry, who both players with Attles (1965-67) and played for Attles (1974-78). I just didnt want him to go to the party. 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. I was 10 years old or so and ran around playing tag in the locker room with my cousins Bernard and Kevin. "I love Al Attles (then the head coach). Golden State Warriors Established 1946 | 7-time NBA Champions October 6, 2021 2:43 PM PDT Twenty years ago, Juan Toscano-Anderson was initially introduced to basketball by his third grade teacher,. Clifford, who referred to Attles as a father figure to all of us, argued that background helped black NBA players feel more comfortable learning because of the similar cultural background. Its a reflection of Toscano-Andersons upbringing in East Oakland, the most dangerous area of a city with 30 homicides already in 2021. Instead, Attles became a world champion as an NBA coach. I am excited to be in Springfield. In other words, Toscano-Anderson made his NBA debut for a team that has been a continual thread throughout his life. But Ridder added, his family is going to play it by ear on whether he attends. The 28-year-old has become a keyrotation player for the Warriors, averaging 8.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals over the last 13 games, while shooting 63 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from deep in 29 minutes per game. Really? Attles worked with the PTA to raise money to replace all the stolen gifts. 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. I just, I was living in urban culture. He is a graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey and North Carolina A&T State University. The Hall of Fame honor comes 59 years after Alvin Austin Attles, Jr. was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Warriors out of North Carolina A&T. He will turn 83 in November. Some nights, he slept with his mom, Patricia Toscano, and sister, Ariana, in their silver sedan. Toscano-Anderson's mother, Patricia, tried her best to flip the narrative for Juan and his siblings. "I feel like there's more that I need to do," Toscano-Anderson said. Similarly, Toscano-Anderson has always been a Warrior, since he was part of the organization's youth program in the third grade. ", Earlier in his life, it was easier for Toscano-Anderson to identity as Black because of his surroundings. Playing in Santa Cruz was really cool also being back home, that was really cool, said Toscano-Anderson. Toscano-Anderson grew up attending Warriors' games at Oracle Arena. Al Attles is best known as a Basketball Player. Attles also played on the Warriors' 1967 team that lost to Chamberlain's 6813 Philadelphia 76ers in an evenly matched, six-game championship series. I look forward to meeting so many idols from my youth. "Like, wow, I get to beat all of these kids? After a long, winding, and non-traditional route, Juan Toscano-Anderson played his first minutes on the NBA hardwood in regular season action. Keen members of Dub Nation likely saw a lot of Toscano-Anderson while they watched this past NBA Summer League as he played on both of the Dubs summer squads in the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League. The Bay Area will catch a break from winter storms for a couple days, but it wont last very long. Credit: I hit all my spots.. But my dads priorities even in a potentially life-changing situation, left a deep impression on me. My dad never looked for trouble, but he would fight for his family. At one point, the doctor thought they might not be able to save either one of us. Furthermore, in 2018, Toscano-Anderson joined the G-League with the Santa Cruz Warriors, where he played for the club for two seasons. So, the Warriors themselves, for what they are, they've given me dreams. I still remember that camp like it was last week Warriors Camp meant a lot. "Hes done everything weve asked and more," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Yes, the wife of Warriors legend Al Attles. Follow Bay Area News Group Warriors beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. It wasn't until he was a bit older that he made a concerted effort to get more in touch with his Hispanic roots. I'm glad I did everything my way.". 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. He remembers me.. "I think I have gone above and beyond to show that I accept who I am. Everything I envisioned as a young kid, when I met Ms. Attles and I had cornrows and I used to wear a Larry Hughes jersey to school, Im doing all of that right now. Its nice they are recognizing someone who has been committed to the game of basketball.. The racket she caused made my father get up to ask her what was wrong. Toscano-Andersons performance at the 2015 FIBA Americas championship was enough to land him a contract from Mexicos top league. Juan, he said, had a real future in basketball. "It was like something to feed off of," the Warriors forwardsaid. 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. At a time when you're trying to form your identity, this kind of commentary makes it nearly impossible. The boy bothering my aunt found that out the hard way. "Enjoy this journey that basketball and life have taken me on. "I knew that I was Mexican. The team that selected him was the then Philadelphia Warriors. The time he saw a homeless man beat another homeless man with an aluminum bat on 95th Avenue. I love who I am. Point guard who starred for the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and coached the team from 1970-1983. Want Warriors news delivered to your phone? Al Attles was born on November 7, 1936 in Newark, NJ. A large part of that was because it was a space for him to let out his competitive juices -- which he's had since birth. Family photos from Juan Toscano-Andersons youth. From left are Jeff Mullins, #23, and Happy Hairston, #52. Following a short stint as the Warriors general manager in 1983-84, Attles retired and became a regular fixture at Warriors home games. 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 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 . She missed doctors appointments. The court was renamed as Al Attles Court. 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. (By Robert Stinnett / Oakland Tribune), Al Attles was the head coach for the Golden State Warriors during their only championship in the 1974-75 season. A week before Juan was killed, Patricia had learned she was pregnant with her second child. "Juan didn't know either. All my life, my family and I have seen a Hall of Fame man. Juan Toscano-Anderson with his family as he graduates from Castro Valley High School. 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. We couldnt share this moment in person with my father, because the game was played in Washington, D.C, and in 1975, teams did not fly families and friends to road games. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Almost all their belongings, including many of the kids childhood photos, were destroyed. I love it here. Without him, she felt lost. "I always wanted to walk onto that court donning an NBA jersey," Toscano-Anderson said. Hes here, and hes making his presence felt.. In 1991, Oakland suffered a devastating Hills fire. Golden State Warriors | 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. This happened once he transferred schools after having a knife pulled on him in second grade. Al Attles is a Warriors icon, but his wife, Wilhelmina, has been his rock for more than half a century. 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. But as of Thursday morning, Toscano-Anderson is an official member of the Warriors -- and stillan Oakland resident -- as he signed a standard, multiyear contract with Golden State. I ran and collected all the family photo albums and put them in my car. (By Howard Erker / Oakland Tribune), 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 Friday, June 19, 2015. Our house didnt burn; we were among the fortunate. Ive always been a Warriors fan. What Attles didnt know then was that Toscano-Anderson was homeless. But my father never seriously entertained any of those offers. Workers in S.F. "But, with all that being said, I feel like I have done myself a disservice by trying to make people happy. It's never an easy critique to hear. After a home game last month, he returned to his apartment with his girlfriend and turned on NBC Sports Bay Area. 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