With more than 11,000 points and 12,000 career rebounds but also nearly 900 games as a coach, Paul Silas was an NBA legend, and a Boston Globe reporter announces his death at the age of 79. The father of Stephen Silas, the current coach of the Rockets, was one of the first black coaches in the NBA, and it will be remembered that he had been the first coach of the Hornets when they moved to New Orleans, but also the first coach of LeBron James in the NBA.
As a player, his track record is very impressive with three NBA titles with Boston and Seattle, two All-Star Game selections, and two appearances in the NBA’s best defensive five. His career averages: 9.4 points and 9.9 rebounds in 1,254 games!
A friend of Michael Jordan, whom he rubbed shoulders with at the Bobcats and the Hornets, Paul Silas began his coaching career in 1980 in San Diego, a year after his 3rd title won at the Sonics. then 37 years old, he will pace the benches until 2012, and it is at his side that his son, Stephen, will become in 2000, at 27, the youngest assistant in the NBA.
I am very sad to report that the Great Paul Silas has died at age 79. To watch him play was a joy. To be his friend was an honor.
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) December 11, 2022
| Paul Silas | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 1964-65 | STH | 79 | 16 | 37.3 | 50.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.3 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.6 | |
| 1965-66 | STH | 46 | 13 | 40.5 | 57.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | |
| 1966-67 | STH | 77 | 20 | 42.9 | 53.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.7 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6.8 | |
| 1967-68 | STH | 82 | 32 | 45.8 | 70.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.4 | |
| 1968-69 | ATL | 79 | 24 | 41.9 | 61.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.4 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.7 | |
| 1969-70 | PHX | 78 | 36 | 46.4 | 60.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.7 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.8 | |
| 1970-71 | PHX | 81 | 36 | 42.8 | 68.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.5 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.9 | |
| 1971-72 | PHX | 80 | 39 | 47.0 | 77.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.9 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17.5 | |
| 1972-73 | BOS | 80 | 33 | 47.0 | 70.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 13.3 | |
| 1973-74 | BOS | 82 | 32 | 44.0 | 78.3 | 4.0 | 7.0 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.5 | |
| 1974-75 | BOS | 82 | 33 | 41.7 | 70.9 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 12.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.6 | |
| 1975-76 | BOS | 81 | 33 | 42.6 | 70.9 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 12.7 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.7 | |
| 1976-77 | DEN | 81 | 24 | 36.0 | 66.7 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 7.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.2 | |
| 1977-78 | SEA | 82 | 27 | 39.7 | 58.6 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 8.1 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5.8 | |
| 1978-79 | SEA | 82 | 24 | 42.3 | 59.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 5.6 | |
| 1979-80 | SEA | 82 | 20 | 37.8 | 0.0 | 65.4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 |
| Total | 1254 | 28 | 43.2 | 0.0 | 67.3 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 9.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 9.4 | |
