Paul Silas facts for kids
Silas with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1977
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 12, 1943 Prescott, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 2022 (aged 79) Denver, North Carolina, U.S. |
| High school | McClymonds (Oakland, California) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Creighton (1961–1964) |
| NBA Draft | 1964 / Round: 2 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Pro career | 1964–1980 |
| Coaching career | 1980–2012 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1964–1969 | St. Louis / Atlanta Hawks |
| 1969–1972 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1972–1976 | Boston Celtics |
| 1976–1977 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1977–1980 | Seattle SuperSonics |
| As coach: | |
| 1980–1983 | San Diego Clippers |
| 1988–1989 | New Jersey Nets (assistant) |
| 1989–1992 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| 1992–1995 | New Jersey Nets (assistant) |
| 1995–1997 | Phoenix Suns (assistant) |
| 1997–1999 | Charlotte Hornets (assistant) |
| 1999–2002 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2002–2003 | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2003–2005 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2010–2012 | Charlotte Bobcats |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 11,782 (9.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 12,357 (9.9 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,572 (2.1 apg) |
Paul Theron Silas (born July 12, 1943 – died December 10, 2022) was an American professional basketball player and head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was known for being a strong player who helped his teams win championships.
As a player, Paul Silas was chosen for the NBA All-Star team twice. He was also picked five times for the NBA All-Defensive Team, which means he was one of the best at stopping other players from scoring. He won three NBA championships: two with the Boston Celtics and one with the Seattle SuperSonics. After his playing career, Silas became a head coach for 12 seasons.
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Early Life and High School Basketball
Paul Silas was born on July 12, 1943, in Prescott, Arkansas. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Oakland, California. In Oakland, they shared a home with his cousins. Some of these cousins later became famous as the music group The Pointer Sisters.
Silas went to McClymonds High School. During his senior year, he was named California Mr. Basketball. He was also chosen as a second-team Parade All-American. His high school team, the Warriors, had an amazing record. They won 68 games in a row and were the top team in California from 1958 to 1960. Some of his teammates also became professional athletes.
College Basketball Career
Paul Silas attended Creighton University for college. He was an incredible rebounder there. He set a record for the most rebounds in a three-year college career. In the 1962–63 season, he led all college players in rebounding. He averaged an impressive 20.6 rebounds per game that year.
In 1964, he was named a second-team All-American. This means he was one of the best college basketball players in the country. Silas also scored over 20 points per game during his college career. He was honored by being voted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Playing in the NBA
Paul Silas was chosen by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1964 NBA draft. He was the 12th player picked overall. After a few years, he started to play much better. In the 1967–68 season, he averaged double figures in both rebounds and points. This means he got more than 10 rebounds and 10 points per game.
After five seasons with the Hawks, Silas moved to the Phoenix Suns. With the Suns, he continued to be a strong player. He averaged double-doubles in points and rebounds every season. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1971 and 1972. He played in the 1972 NBA All-Star Game. In his third season with the Suns, he scored a career-high 17.5 points per game.
In 1972, Silas was traded to the Boston Celtics. This was a big move for him. With the Celtics, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice. He was a very important part of the Celtics winning two NBA championships. They won in 1974 and again in 1976. His strong play inside the paint helped his teammate Dave Cowens score more easily.
After winning the 1976 championship, Silas was traded to the Denver Nuggets. He played one season there. Then, he was traded to the Seattle SuperSonics. With Seattle, he was known as a tough player who helped his team. The SuperSonics reached the NBA championship series in 1978 and 1979. They won the NBA title in 1979, beating the Washington Bullets.
During his 16 years in the NBA, Paul Silas achieved a lot. He scored over 10,000 points and grabbed over 10,000 rebounds. He played in two NBA All-Star games. He also won three NBA championship rings. He was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team twice and the All-NBA Defensive Second Team three times.
Coaching in the NBA
Right after he stopped playing, Paul Silas started his coaching career. He became the head coach for the San Diego Clippers from 1980 to 1983. The team had a tough time with many player injuries during his time there.
After a break, Silas worked as an assistant coach for several teams. He was an assistant for the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks. He then returned to the Nets as an assistant coach. Later, he also worked as an assistant for the Phoenix Suns.
In 1997, Silas joined the coaching staff of the Charlotte Hornets. He got another chance to be a head coach when the Hornets' coach was fired. Silas took over as interim coach. He helped the team improve their record. Because of his success, he became the full-time head coach of the Hornets. He coached the team from 1999 to 2003. During this time, he led the team to the playoffs every season. He was known as a coach who was honest and fair with his players.
Silas then became the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2005. He was hired to help guide the young superstar LeBron James in his first years in the NBA. Silas was later fired during the 2004–2005 season.
In 2010, Silas was named interim head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. He later became the full-time coach. The 2011–12 season was a very difficult one for the Bobcats. They had the worst winning record in NBA history that year. Silas did not return as coach for the next season.
Personal Life
Paul Silas married Carolyn Kemp in 1966. They had two children together, Paula and Stephen. Paul also had a stepdaughter named Donna. His son, Stephen, followed in his footsteps and became a basketball coach. Stephen even joined his father's coaching staff in Charlotte in 2000.
Paul Silas passed away on December 10, 2022, at his home in Denver, North Carolina. He was 79 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Paul Silas para niños
- List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders
- List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 30 or more rebounds in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders
