NBA legend Paul Silas dies at the age of 79, leaving behind a memorable legacy
Basketball taught NBA legend Paul Silas many things. Most importantly, basketball taught Paul Silas how to be patient.
Silas had to wait ten years as a player before winning his first NBA championship. He waited 15 years as a coach before getting another opportunity to manage a team. He had to wait 20 years as a father before his son was given the opportunity to lead a franchise.
“I always tried to remain positive,” Silas said in 2013, “and I think it usually worked out.”
On Sunday, the grave news was announced by Silas’ family. Paul Silas, an NBA legend – who touched the game as a player, coach, and president of the National Basketball Players Association – has died at the age of 79.
Paul Silas’ daughter, Paula Silas-Guy informed that her father died Saturday night of cardiac arrest, as per The New York Times.
Notably, Paul Silas’ son, Stephen Silas, is currently the coach of the Houston Rockets. Due to his father’s death, Stephen Silas will be away from the team presently. Further, it is not immediately clear how long Stephen Silas will be away from the team.
After the news of Silas’ death was announced, tributes began arriving quickly as pregame moments of silence were held in New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York, and Houston, among other places.
“Paul made a huge contribution to the game of basketball and will be sorely missed!” Hall of Fame guard and Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson tweeted.
Paul Theron Silas was drafted in the 1964 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He was a Round 2 pick with a 10th overall selection.
Silas played for 16 seasons in the NBA. He was a five-time all-defensive team selection who averaged 9.4 points and 9.9 rebounds.
He played for St. Louis Hawks / Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Seattle Supersonics.
Further, Silas won two titles with the Boston Celtics — the first coming in his 10th season as a player — and claimed a third with the Seattle SuperSonics. He also became a two-time NBA All-Star.
Notably, Silas retired at the age of 36; he was then the NBA’s oldest player when he retired.
Paul Silas played his college basketball at Creighton, averaging 20.5 points and 21.6 rebounds in three seasons. He was voted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
As a coach, Silas began his career as a head coach with a three-year stint leading the then-San Diego Clippers starting in 1980. After spending more than a decade as an assistant coach, he returned to being a head coach and spent time with the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Charlotte Bobcats.
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