She named him Juan. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Coach Steve Kerr rocked a retro-style suit in Attles' honor, sighing and saying after the game, "Polyester, 100 percent polyester. 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. Hes had a fighting spirit since the moment he came into the world, Patricia said. I don't want to say I didn't accept it. Is Californias drought finally over? Twenty years ago, Juan Toscano-Anderson was initially introduced to basketball by his third grade teacher, Wilhelmina Attles, wife of Hall of Famer and Warriors legend Alvin Attles. ", Download and subscribe to the Dubs Talk Podcast, Why JTA felt 'destined' to sign standard contract with Dubs, JTA sharesheartfelt moment with mom after contract signing. Thats what kind of jump started me playing basketball. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the . They've given me an idea of where I wanted to be in my life and what I wanted to do.". But does that mean he was a Warriors fan growing up? For those 20 or so minutes, he was like any other kid, giggling as he beat his classmates in footraces or pickup basketball games. 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. She noticed that he seemed to be happiest when he was playing basketball in the schoolyard. My fathers nickname was The Destroyer, because of his willingness to finish a fight. In class, his voice barely rose above a whisper. And Al Attles Golden State Warriors have just won the NBA championship!. "I always wanted to walk onto that court donning an NBA jersey," 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. Aug 15, 2022. We will forever be grateful.. She also did the cooking, the cleaning, paid the bills, helped with homework, carpooled us to our various activities and even taught me how to play basketball, as more and more of my fathers time was spent at work. "I think I have gone above and beyond to show that I accept who I am. 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. "I'm sure there were some more opportunities out there for me, but this is home for me. At that time, the only NBA player he knew about was Allen Iverson.". "I was enjoying basketball, and that's what I do this for, to just enjoy the game," Toscano-Anderson said. Connor Letourneau is a sports enterprise reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. As Toscano-Anderson said, the team never treated him as a two-way player because of what he brought to the court. Just being from Oakland, I feel like its embedded in me, he said in his Warriors Player Profile. I ran into the house and asked my mom what I should rescue from the house. It also unlocked his passion for basketball. Kerr wore a 1970s style suit similar to what Attles wore on the sideline. Want Warriors news delivered to your phone? There were times people told Toscano-Anderson he made the wrong decision by going to the G League. 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. Attles also played on the Warriors' 1967 team that lost to Chamberlain's 6813 Philadelphia 76ers in an evenly matched, six-game championship series. 95 -- to represent 95th Avenue in East Oakland. When Al put that uniform on, he gave you everything he had, Barry said. Even though I know what the situation is, it doesnt matter, said former Warriors forward Clifford Ray. Last season, the Warriors hosted Al Attles night during a regular-season game by playing a tribute video and handing out I'm glad I did everything my way.". There, Al Attles often sits on a chair. could be eligible for a share of $104 million. Attles, 82, has not been at Warriors games recently this season because of what team spokesman Raymond Ridder called age-related ailments. The Warriors have invited Attles to be among the Warriors luminaries to attend Sundays game against the Clippers, which will mark the final regular-season game at Oracle Arena. Once I leave Chase Center, I can drive across that bridge and go straight home and celebrate all of this with my family. Tuesday, February 12, 2013. . It never happened because The Destroyer rushed to Barrys defense, leisure suit and all. He also didnt inundate us with a lot of technical things and paper work. The former Warriors general manager, coach and player hadn't been around much at all this season because of health issues. San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images. I paint the city, man, Toscano-Anderson said. Some players play hungry; Juan plays like a guy whos starving, Warriors guard Mychal Mulder said. Despite being a fan though, Toscano-Anderson did not play basketball early in life. As kids, my sister once told my dad about a boy who was messing with at her at school. One of those games included a USA-Mexico match. At one point, the doctor thought they might not be able to save either one of us. He walks a little crookedly, and he struggles with his memory sometimes. Juan's third-grade teacher, Wilhelmina Attles -- wife of Warriors legend Al Attles -- set him up at a basketball camp. Even then, he knew that suburbia didnt suit him. On Friday against Washington, players wore shooting shirts featuring Attles' likeness. As Toscano-Anderson said, he didn't ever believe he'd play for the same team he grew up cheering on. For the rest of the school year, she made herself available to Juan anytime he needed her. Toscano-Andersons No. src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=674090812743125&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/>. As he walks past familiar liquor stores and laundromats, he is reminded of some childhood memories that shake him to this day. He was named player-coach of the Warriors midway through the 196970 season, succeeding George Lee. The Warriors were longshots to beat the Washington Bullets. All she wanted was to keep him smiling. Toscano-Anderson could have been among them. A native of Oakland, Toscano-Anderson is uniquely tied to the Golden State Warriors. He listened to rap music and spent most of his time in "the hood.". 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. 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. 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. (Ray Chavez/Staff Archives). But hes home now and is getting a little bit stronger every day.. Click here if you are unable to view this gallery on a mobile device. 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. Mrs. Attles was right: Toscano-Andersonwas happiest when he was playing basketball in the yard at Stonehurst Elementary. Kerrs game plan, the Warriors energy, lifted the Dubs to a much-needed win [5] He intended to return to Newark and coach at his local junior high school when he was drafted by the Warriors. "I knew that I was Mexican. I still remember that camp like it was last week Warriors Camp meant a lot. (Staff Archives), Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles on the sidelines. 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 Toscano-Andersons teacher at Montclair Elementary School in Oakland. "Enjoy this journey that basketball and life have taken me on. His ability to guard multiple positions, find open shooters and ratchet up the tempo intrigued Golden State, which had helped hasten the leagues trend toward a positionless brand of basketball. Attles worked with the PTA to raise money to replace all the stolen gifts. (Staff Archives), Oakland, CA Circa 1980 - Al Attles on the sidelines of a Golden State Warriors Basktball game. Collect, curate and comment on your files. But I never really indulged in the culture, per se. Attles's number 16 is retired by the Warriors and he attends every Warriors home game. It wouldn't matter if he was or wasn't a member of the team, he would always consider himself a Warrior. They've been here ever since. By the time Juan was 14, Patricias goal for him was clear: college somewhere, anywhere and a life away from Oakland. * * *. 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. Several teams came looking to throw big money at him, hoping they would lure him away with more than Mr. Meuli could offer. It wouldn't matter if he was living there or pursuing his basketball dreams elsewhere -- Oakland was always home. She was aware of the strugglesthe Toscano family was facing and wanted to help, so she suggested Toscano-Andersonenrollin the Golden State Warriors youth camp. After a long, winding, and non-traditional route, Juan Toscano-Anderson played his first minutes on the NBA hardwood in regular season action. I look forward to meeting so many idols from my youth. I just love to compete," Toscano-Andersonsaid. Patricia, still grieving the death of her younger brother, sank into a deep depression. The voice of the iconic Bill King rang out. That's the first step, I've gotten through the first step to put myself in a situation to be here for another year, so now I'm working to continue and have longevity in this league.". You hardly feel out of place. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. Although celebrities such as Wilt Chamberlain, Jesse Jackson, and Bill Cosby were friends of his, he never took on celebrity airs. Friends told her that he had blossomed into an all-state player at Castro Valley High School. Even when he was not at his healthiest, Attles still attended Warriors home games in recent seasons. 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. As the years passed, Attles often wondered what had become of the meek boy with the cornrows and the Larry Hughes jersey. You know, just really taking on the competitive challenge that was needed.". Attles became an assistant coach in 1968, while still a player. 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). Ever! He also serves as a team ambassador. But it won't last long. It's a city made up of an incredibly diverse population, making those of us who tend to fall in minority races or are biracial feel more at peace. Attles, one of Montclairs only African American teachers, felt an immediate kinship with Juan, who is half-Black, half-Mexican. A mechanical engineer, he raised four kids as a single father and tried to shield them from the gang violence overtaking the surrounding streets. All my life, my family and I have seen a Hall of Fame man. Attles, 82, has had four surgeries in the past. Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. His toughness stemmed from loyalty.Related Articles After being scouted and recruited, he wound up playing at Marquette University where his injuries cost him playing time through his four years. 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. After questioning his abilities, it is only fitting that Oakland native Toscano-Anderson found his way into the NBA by coming back to the Bay Area. To Toscano-Anderson, this meant that he too could compete against the talent in the G League. Patricia wascalled into a parent-teacher conference with Toscano-Anderson's teacher, WillheminaAttles. During the All-Star break, Toscano-Anderson held a basketball camp at an elementary school in Monterrey, Mexico. My mom explained that her day was exhausting, and she was tired. I think it's just there's a difference, you know, like actually indulging in, you know, the culture to traditions, the language, all of that stuff. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Con_Chron, How Juan Toscano-Anderson escaped monsters of his youth to become Oaklands Warrior, How Juan Toscano-Anderson gave himself a shot at a long-term future with Warriors, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson attend Oakland protest led by Juan Toscano-Anderson, How Curry's 3-point shooting changed the game. Golden State Warriors | He had the shooting touch of a jackhammer, but no team ever traded Attles for cash and a fist to be named later, probably because if intimidation was what you wanted, it was clearly better to fight with Attles than against him. Similarly, Toscano-Anderson has always been a Warrior, since he was part of the organization's youth program in the third grade. Recent seasons living there or pursuing his basketball dreams elsewhere -- Oakland was always home beyond show... The school year, she made herself available to Juan anytime he needed her time, the only player. 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