Paul Silas

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Silas was born on July 12, 1943, in Prescott, Arkansas. His family moved to Oakland, California, when he was eight. He attended McClymonds High School, where he was named California Mr. Basketball and a second-team Parade All-American as a senior. He played college basketball for the Creighton Bluejays, earning second-team All-American honors as a senior in 1964. He was selected in the second round of the 1964 NBA draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He played 16 seasons in the NBA for the St. Louis Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Seattle SuperSonics. After his playing career, Silas was a head coach for 12 seasons, including stints with the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Charlotte Bobcats.

In Their Own Story

During the 1971–72 season, his third with the Suns, Silas grabbed 955 rebounds in 80 games and scored a career-high 17.5 points per game. His inside play with the Celtics freed up their undersized center, 6-foot-9-inch Dave Cowens, whose shooting ability from the outside opened up the interior for Silas. After his playing career, Silas immediately started his coaching career with the San Diego Clippers from 1980 to 1983, compiling a 78–168 record. He later became interim head coach of the Charlotte Hornets in 1999 after Dave Cowens was fired with a 4–11 record. Under Silas, the Hornets went 22–13 to finish the lockout-shortened season 26–24. Coaching the Hornets from 1999 to 2003, Silas had a 208–155 record, taking the team into the playoffs each season. He was head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2005, hired to mentor 18-year-old rookie LeBron James. He was fired in the middle of the season with the Cavaliers at 34–30. On December 22, 2010, Silas was named interim head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. In 2011–12, Charlotte had a league-worst 7–59 record, the worst winning percentage in league history (.106).

Reader's Guide

Paul Silas played for the St. Louis Hawks (1964–1969), Phoenix Suns (1969–1972), Boston Celtics (1972–1976), Denver Nuggets (1976–1977), and Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1980). He did not play for the Portland Trail Blazers or Houston Rockets.

Did You Know?

• Silas set an NCAA record for the most rebounds in a three-year career and was the Division I rebounding leader for the 1962–63 season with 20.6 rebounds per game.
• He was a key contributor to the Celtics' NBA championships in 1974 and 1976, and won a third title with the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979.
• Silas is one of 31 players to have averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds in the same season on eight occasions.
• He was the first head coach of LeBron James in the NBA, coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003 to 2005.