OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Al Attles made all eight of his field-goal tries for 17 points during Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game on March 2, 1962. Attles coached Rick Barry the day he scored 64 against Portland on March 26, 1974.
He watched with a smile high above the Oracle Arena floor on Monday night as Klay Thompson scored an NBA season-high and career-best 60 points in three quarters for the Golden State Warriors in a 142-106 win against Indiana.
Not that he will even play favorites. Don’t even try.
“I’ve seen a 100-point game,” Attles said from his seat during a late timeout. “Rick was such a great player and he cared about winning. In order to score the number of points he scored you have to have help from your teammates. I try to look at them individually because once you start comparing, someone is always going to be No. 2. Let’s give him his credit.”
While Attles — who recently celebrated his 80th birthday at Oracle — was close with Chamberlain, when people ask about the 100-point performance, he still keeps it separate from other sensational showings like the onslaught by Thompson.
“It’s like apples and oranges,” he said. “They’re both good fruit. It’s a matter of what you like. I was very close to Wilt, but you have to enjoy what they did that night. I enjoy any great performance. I’m very happy to be here tonight.”
