James Silas

Career

Silas played college basketball at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In his senior year he led the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks to a 29–1 record while averaging 30.7 points per game, and he was twice named an NAIA All-American. The Houston Rockets selected him in the fifth round of the 1972 NBA draft, but waived him before the 1972–73 season began. After the Pittsburgh Condors, the ABA team that had drafted him in the sixth round of the 1972 ABA draft, folded operations, Babe McCarthy, then coaching the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA, gave Silas a chance; Silas signed with the Chaparrals in November 1972. He made the ABA All-Rookie team at the end of that season. Following the 1972–73 season, the Chaparrals were sold and moved to San Antonio, becoming the San Antonio Spurs. Silas was named to the ABA All-Star team in 1975 and 1976, earned All-ABA 2nd team honors in 1975, and All-ABA 1st team in 1976. His best statistical year was 1976, when he averaged 23.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game—the highest points and assists per game of his career. That year he played in only one playoff game because he suffered a jammed big toe on his left foot and a chip fracture in his right ankle in the third quarter, ending his postseason as the Spurs lost to the eventual ABA champion New York Nets. During his first NBA preseason with the Spurs against the Kansas City Kings, he injured his left knee, causing him to play only 59 games over the next two years; after that injury he never returned to his previous level. Silas played eight seasons for the Spurs (nine if the one season with the Dallas Chaparrals is included), including five NBA seasons after the ABA/NBA merger in 1976. After the 1981 season, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers along with the rights to Rich Yonakur, where he played one year before retiring. Throughout his career, Silas was an exceptional free throw shooter, ranking in the top 10 in free throw percentage in six separate seasons and finishing with a career free-throw percentage of 85.5%.