", Earlier in his life, it was easier for Toscano-Anderson to identity as Black because of his surroundings. 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). But as a child, it's even harder. One night in July 1992, Macarios youngest son, Juan, had an argument with someone in the neighborhood. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. (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. He is an actor, known for Inside Moves (1980), The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame. I am versatile. Patricia Toscano, mother of Golden State Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson, stands outside his childhood home in Oakland. Tuesday, February 12, 2013. . 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. (By Dino Vournas/Straff Archives), Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles rejoices. Back when Attles had a sharper memory, his consideration for others left a lasting impact. I tried to provide a shoulder, just extra love and attention.. It's never an easy critique to hear. 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. Despite being a fan though, Toscano-Anderson did not play basketball early in life. I still remember that camp like it was last week Warriors Camp meant a lot. I don't know if it was my pride or selfishness, but I have no regrets.". Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. 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. Several teams came looking to throw big money at him, hoping they would lure him away with more than Mr. Meuli could offer. A mechanical engineer, he raised four kids as a single father and tried to shield them from the gang violence overtaking the surrounding streets. 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. None of this wouldve been possible without your love and support at a very difficult time in our lives, Patricia wrote. 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. He was named player-coach of the Warriors midway through the 196970 season, succeeding George Lee. To her surprise, she was having a boy. Following a short stint as the Warriors general manager in 1983-84, Attles retired and became a regular fixture at Warriors home games. Point guard who starred for the Philadelphia/Golden State Warriors from 1960-1971, and coached the team from 1970-1983. 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. 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. I dont care if he doesnt remember everything. Before returning to his luxury apartment near Chase Center in San Francisco, Toscano-Anderson feasts at his favorite Mexican restaurant, Mariscos La Costa on International Boulevard. Toscano-Anderson contains a similar fire to that of Draymond Green, who's considered the heartbeat of the team. As he walks past familiar liquor stores and laundromats, he is reminded of some childhood memories that shake him to this day. Juan's third-grade teacher, Wilhelmina Attles -- wife of Warriors legend Al Attles -- set him up at a basketball camp. To see your child living his dream, it means everything.. His work has been honored by APSE, CNPA and the Professional Basketball Writers Association. Friday, the basketball Hall Of Fame will confirm what weve all known all along. A native of Oakland, Toscano-Anderson is uniquely tied to the Golden State Warriors. He tries to impact the game the same way Green does -- by doing a bit of everything. I started playing basketball in third grade. I love who I am. He had planned to attend the party. Our house didnt burn; we were among the fortunate. It was quite the homecoming. 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. 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. On the occasion of his fathers induction into, 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, On the occasion of his fathers induction into the basketball Hall of Fame, a son pays tribute, 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. They have two children. And well just smile, because thats so him. Juan Toscano-Anderson loves letting people know where hes from, down to the block. "But he's. 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,. At first, it was about making the Santa Cruz Warriors during a tryout. I hated to hear it then, but I grew to understand, my father was extolling the value of hard work. Al Attles was born on November 7, 1936 in Newark, NJ. My dad agreed and the next day, he promptly burned a can of franks-and-beans for dinner. A life-changing signature," Toscano-Anderson said in a Zoom press conference Thursday evening. I am done trying to show people that I am Black and I am Mexican. As did the policeman. 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. Toscano-Anderson grew up attending Warriors' games at Oracle Arena. Attles worked with the PTA to raise money to replace all the stolen gifts. She also helped him get on the Oakland Rebels' AAU basketball team. "Like, wow, I get to beat all of these kids? police arrest 2 teens suspected in brutal attack near Dolores Park, a hero of sorts to Mexicans and Mexican Americans. The doctor asked Patricias family whom he should save, if it came down to a choice: mother or son. But eventually, they did. 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. That's when fate intervened. That encouragement set Toscano-Anderson on a path that has eventually led with the versatile forward finding a home with his childhood team, as this past May he signed a multi-year contract with the Warriors. 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. Im just ecstatic that hes one of the positive ones. 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. Now, at 27, he is drawing comparisons to All-Star teammate Draymond Green for his court vision and energy. 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. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? So, the Warriors themselves, for what they are, they've given me dreams. "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 . I think it's the best of both worlds.". Especially as he set out to start his career. 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. He thanked Attles again Thursday, noting, "She just changed my life." Attles's team tried to repeat the following season, but they lost to the Phoenix Suns in the Conference Finals in seven games. He was previously the Warriors beat reporter (2016-2021) and the Cal beat reporter (2015-16). Some nights, he slept with his mom, Patricia Toscano, and sister, Ariana, in their silver sedan. 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. Workers in S.F. HIs wise counsel, his unwavering loyalty, his great sense of humor, his deep compassion for others. Golden State Warriors | But it won't last long. 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. (Ray Chavez/Staff Archives). (Staff Archives), Oakland, CA January 23, 1980 - Golden State Warriors basketball coach Al Attles on the sidelines. I'm just Juan, the biracial guy. BARTs second Transbay Tube could get quashed as planners scale back S.F. It's also in Mexico. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. 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. From left are Jeff Mullins, #23, and Happy Hairston, #52. 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. One half of one percent of people looking to play professional basketball will even get the opportunity to try out.. You can waste them both.. Toscano-Anderson's family immigrated from Michoacan, Mexico, in the 1940s and immediately settled in Oakland. 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. 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. As a kid, Toscano-Anderson lived in five houses scattered across East Oakland. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. "But, with all that being said, I feel like I have done myself a disservice by trying to make people happy. And where else would he find out if he could play against the best than back home in the Bay Area? At 6'3" and son of an NBA legend, Al Attles, III undoubtedly knows, loves and has played basketball, but writing, storytelling, and filmmaking were always his passion. This happened once he transferred schools after having a knife pulled on him in second grade. pizza favorite shuts down after 13 years, plus more closings, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Toscano-Anderson still plays with that same mindset in the NBA. During the 198384 NBA season, Attles worked as the Warriors' general manager. He was there when Chamberlain scored 100 points in 1962. 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. And Toscano-Anderson used that as constant motivation to be at his best. But hes home now and is getting a little bit stronger every day.. Sure, he made up those scenarios in his head but didn't think they'd become reality. "I never imagined it being a Warrior jersey. Through the rest of elementary and middle school, Juan split time between his grandpas home and those of his AAU coaches in Oakland, not moving to Castro Valley full-time until the summer before his freshman year of high school. He played college basketball at North Carolina A&T, and was selected 39th overall in the 1960 NBA draft. Then, it also appears inevitable they will honor Attles. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. He made about $2,000 a month with Santa Cruz. Alvin Austin Attles Jr. (Destroyer. I cant wait to see his Hall of Fame ring and Hall of Fame blazer. 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. "It's God-sent for sure. You hardly feel out of place. 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.". The time he saw a homeless man beat another homeless man with an aluminum bat on 95th Avenue. 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. Her younger brother, a nephew and two of her cousins were all shot and killed in East Oakland. At one point, the doctor thought they might not be able to save either one of us. Then, one day in spring 2015, Attles received a small package containing a program from the Marquette University mens basketball program and a letter. 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. Barry, however, is less reticent, which is much of the reason he is an. But I never really indulged in the culture, per se. Juan Toscano-Anderson with his family as he graduates from Castro Valley High School. 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. "I feel like this situation is just destined," he said. FamousBirthdays.com - use subject to the practices disclosed in our privacy policy. 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