Paul Silas was a 3-time NBA champion and a head coach who was the first NBA coach of LeBron James.
- Died: Saturday, December 10, 2022. (Who else died on December 10?)
- Details of death: Died from cardiac arrest at the age of 79.
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NBA Legend
Paul Silas played college basketball at Creighton University where he was a star rebounder. He was drafted in the second round of the 1964 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He was known in the NBA for his defense and rebounding skill. He won two NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and one with the Seattle Supersonics in the 1970s. Silas was a two-time NBA all-star and twice selected to the NBA all-defensive team. After playing, he started a long career as an NBA coach. He was head coach at San Diego, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Cleveland. In Cleveland, he was LeBron James coach for his first two seasons. His son, Stephen Silas, is the current head coach of the Houston Rockets.
Notable Quote
“I coached LeBron for two years, his first two years, and LeBron was unbelievable,” Silas said. “At 18 years old, he knew about Bill Russell, he knew about a lot of players who came through that most players his age don’t even know. And he understood the game.” – ESPN
Tributes to Paul Silas
Full Obituary: ESPN
