Paul Silas with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1977
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Personal information | |
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Born |
Prescott, Arkansas |
July 12, 1943
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | McClymonds (Oakland, California) |
College | Creighton (1961–1964) |
NBA draft | 1964 / Round: 2 / Pick: 10th overall |
Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
Playing career | 1964–1980 |
Position | Power forward / Small forward |
Number | 29, 12, 35, 36 |
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) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Paul Theron Silas (born July 12, 1943) is an American retired professional basketball player and former NBA head coach.
He is the father of current NBA assistant coach Stephen Silas.
Born in Prescott, Arizona, Silas attended Creighton University, where he set an NCAA record for the most rebounds in three seasons and averaged 20.6 rebounds per game in 1963. In the NBA, Silas collected more than 10,000 points and 10,000 rebounds during his distinguished 16-year career, played in two All-Star games, and won three championship rings (two with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and 1976, and one with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979). He was named to the All-NBA Defensive First Team twice, and to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team three times.
He was head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers until March 21, 2005. Prior to his job with the Cavaliers, he was an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, and Charlotte Hornets, and the head coach for the San Diego Clippers, and Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets.
He worked for ESPN, although in April 2007 he interviewed for the vacant head coaching position with the Charlotte Bobcats (later known as the Charlotte Hornets) which was eventually filled by Sam Vincent. Upon the firing of Sam Vincent in April 2008, he stated that coaching the Bobcats would be a "dream job." On December 22, 2010, Silas was named interim head coach of the Bobcats, replacing the outgoing coach Larry Brown. On February 16, 2011, the Bobcats removed his interim status. On April 30, 2012, the Bobcats announced that Silas would not return to the Bobcats for the 2012–2013 season after producing the worst record in NBA history. Because of the record transfer that occurred in 2014, Silas' tenure with the Bobcats is now recognized as his second tenure with the Charlotte Hornets, meaning that he had coached them for about six seasons with a record of 204–220.