James Silas facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 11, 1949 Tallulah, Louisiana, U.S. |
| High school | McCall (Tallulah, Louisiana) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Stephen F. Austin (1968–1972) |
| NBA Draft | 1972 / Round: 5 / Pick: 70th overall |
| Selected by the Houston Rockets | |
| Pro career | 1972–1982 |
| Career history | |
| 1972–1981 | Dallas Chaparrals / San Antonio Spurs |
| 1981–1982 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career ABA and NBA statistics | |
| Points | 11,038 (16.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,068 (3.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,628 (3.8 apg) |
James Edward Silas (born February 11, 1949) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a talented point guard on the court. James Silas played most of his career with the Dallas Chaparrals and later the San Antonio Spurs. These teams were part of the ABA and then the NBA.
Silas was known by cool nicknames like "the Snake" and "Captain Late." People also called him "the Late Mr. Silas." These names came from his amazing ability to play his best when games were close or in the final moments.
Contents
James Silas: A Basketball Star
College Years: Building Skills
James Silas played college basketball at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was a standout player for the Lumberjacks. In his final year, Silas helped his team achieve an impressive 29–1 record. He scored an average of 30.7 points per game that season. Silas was also recognized as an NAIA All-American twice during his college career.
Professional Career: From ABA to NBA
Silas was chosen by the Houston Rockets in the 1972 1972 NBA draft. However, he did not play for them. Instead, he joined the Dallas Chaparrals in the American Basketball Association (ABA). He quickly showed his skills and was named to the ABA All-Rookie team in his first season.
After the 1972–73 season, the Dallas Chaparrals team moved to San Antonio and became the San Antonio Spurs. Silas continued to shine with the Spurs. He was picked for the ABA All-Star team in both 1975 and 1976. He also earned spots on the All-ABA 2nd team in 1975 and the All-ABA 1st team in 1976.
His best year for statistics was 1976. That season, he averaged 23.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. These were the highest points and assists averages of his career.
Silas played for the Spurs for eight seasons. This includes the time when the team was still the Dallas Chaparrals. He continued with the Spurs for five years in the NBA after the ABA and NBA leagues joined together in 1976. After the 1981 season, Silas moved to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one year before he retired from playing.
James Silas was also known for being an excellent free throw shooter. He often ranked among the top 10 players in free throw percentage. His career free-throw percentage was an impressive 85.5%.
A Retired Jersey: Honoring a Legend
On February 28, 1984, the San Antonio Spurs honored James Silas in a special way. His jersey number, 13, became the very first number ever retired by the team. This means no other Spurs player will wear the number 13. He is one of only ten players to receive this honor from the Spurs. Silas is also unique because his number was retired even though he played for the team when it was still the Dallas Chaparrals.
See also
In Spanish: James Silas para niños
