Paul Silas, a defensive stalwart who won three NBA championships and went on to coach for over a decade in the league, died Sunday. He was 79.
After being selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the second round of the 1964 NBA draft, Silas emerged as a defensive stalwart over 16 seasons in the league. Silas showed promise in his early years, but took a big step forward during the 1967-68 season, when he averaged 13.4 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. It was the first time Silas averaged a double-double over a full season. He would go on to repeat that feat seven more times in his career.
Silas then joined the Boston Celtics, where he experienced the most success in his career. In four seasons with the team, Silas averaged 11.5 points and 12.3 rebounds. Silas was named to the second team NBA All-Defensive team in his debut season in Boston and went on to make the first team NBA All-Defensive team in the 1974-75 season and the 1975-76 season. He also experienced success in the playoffs with Boston, winning two NBA championships in four seasons with the team.
Silas eventually got another shot as a head coach with the Charlotte Hornets. He spent four seasons with the team and one after the franchise moved to New Orleans. He then joined the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he became LeBron James' first NBA coach. Silas coached James during his first two seasons in the NBA. The Cavaliers went 69-77 under Silas, but James played like a superstar, averaging 24.1 points, 6.6 assists and 6.4 rebounds in his first two years in the NBA.
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