Former NBA player, coach Silas dies at 79
Basketball taught Paul Silas how to be patient.
As a player, he waited 10 years before winning his first championship. As a coach, he waited 15 years for a second chance at running a team. As a father, he waited 20 years before seeing his son get a chance to lead a franchise.
“I always tried to remain positive,” Silas said in 2013, “and I think it usually worked out.”
Silas – who touched the game as a player, coach and president of the National Basketball Players Association – has died, his family announced Sunday. Silas, whose son, Stephen Silas, is coach of the Houston Rockets, was 79.
Silas’ daughter, Paula Silas-Guy, told The New York Times that her father died Saturday night of cardiac arrest. The Boston Globe first reported Silas’ death.
“We mourn the passing of former NBA AllStar and head coach Paul Silas,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “Paul’s lasting contributions to the game are seen through the many players and coaches he inspired, including his son, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. We send our deepest condolences to Paul’s family.”
Silas began his career as a head coach with a three-year stint leading the then-San Diego Clippers starting in 1980. After spending more than a decade as an assistant, he returned to being a head coach and spent time with the Charlotte Hornets, the New Orleans Hornets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Bobcats.
Sunday’s games
Atlanta 123, Chicago 122 (OT): A.J. Griffin hit a 6-footer on an alley-oop pass at the overtime buzzer as the host Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak. DeMar DeRozan sank three free throws with 0.5 seconds remaining in overtime to finish with 33 points as it appeared the Bulls had the game wrapped up with less than a second remaining. But Griffin took the alley-oop pass from Jalen Johnson on the sideline and scored on a turnaround jumper.
Houston 97, Milwaukee 92: Jalen Green had 30 points and seven rebounds and Kevin Porter Jr. added 18 points and seven assists for the host Rockets. Houston was coached by assistant coach John Lucas with head coach Stephen Silas away from the team following the death of father, Paul Silas. Jrue Holiday had 25 points and eight assists for Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 16 points and 18 rebounds.
New Orleans 129, Phoenix 124 (OT): Zion Williamson scored 35 points and host New Orleans beat short-handed Phoenix in overtime for its seventh straight victory. CJ McCollum added 29 for the Pelicans, who beat the Suns – playing without star guard Devin Booker because of tightness in his left hamstring – for the second time in three days.
New York 112, Sacramento 99: Julius Randle and RJ Barrett each scored 27 points and the host Knicks ran their winning streak to a season-high four games. Randle had all 27 points by halftime, then was ejected with 3:35 left in the third quarter after arguing a non-call and receiving two technical fouls. Damantas Sabonis led Sacramento with 20 points.
Orlando 111, Toronto 99: Franz Wagner scored 23 points, Paolo Banchero added 20 points and 12 rebounds and the host Magic won its third straight. Orlando’s last threegame winning streak was in February 2021. Gary Trent Jr. led the Raptors with 24 points.
Philadelphia 131, Charlotte 113: Joel Embiid had 53 points and 11 rebounds for the host 76ers, his second 50-plus point performance of the season. Tobias Harris scored 17 points and James Harden added 14 for the Sixers. Charlotte, which has lost five straight, was led by Kelly Oubre Jr. and Terry Rozier, who each scored 29 points.