Silas, three-time champ, coach and players association president, 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 — died, his family announced Sunday. Silas, whose son, Stephen Silas, is coach of the Houston Rockets, was 79.
“He combined the knowledge developed over nearly 40 years as an NBA player and coach with an innate understanding of how to mix discipline with his never-ending positivity,” Charlotte Hornets chairman Michael Jordan said. “On or off the court, Paul’s enthusiastic and engaging personality was accompanied by an anecdote for every occasion. He was one of the all-time great people in our game, and he will be missed.”
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 All-Star 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.”
Tributes began arriving quickly. New Orleans had a moment of silence for Silas prior to its game with Phoenix on Sunday, and both Suns coach Monty Williams and Charlotte coach Steve Clifford spoke at length about Silas’ role on their careers.
“For my family, he’s a God. He’s larger than life,” Clifford said.
Silas began his career as a head coach with a threeyear 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.
He took four of those teams to the playoffs, winning exactly 400 games — 387 in the regular season, 13 more in the postseason.
He was a five-time AllDefensive team selection who averaged 9.4 points and 9.9 rebounds in 16 seasons with the St. Louis and Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix, Boston, Denver and Seattle. Silas won two titles with the Celtics — the first coming in his 10th season as a player — and claimed a third with the SuperSonics. At 36, he was then the NBA's oldest player when he retired. And as the union president, Silas oversaw a time where rosters grew, salaries rose and benefits improved.
SUNDAY’S GAMES Pelicans 129, Suns 124 (OT):
Zion Williamson scored 35 points and host New Orleans beat shorthanded 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 and won for the 12th time in their last 14 games as they’ve surged to the Western Conference lead.
Deandre Ayton had 28 points and 12 rebounds for Phoenix, but fouled out on Williamson’s drive with New Orleans clinging to a two-point lead in the final minute of regulation. Mikal Bridges scored 27 for Phoenix.
Lakers 124, Pistons 117: LeBron James scored 35 points, Anthony Davis had 34 points and 15 rebounds and Los Angeles beat host Detroit. Davis also had seven assists as the Lakers overcame 38 points from Bojan Bogdanovic to end a threegame losing streak.
Lonnie Walker IV added 18 points for Los Angeles and Russell Westbrook had 11 points and nine assists. Rookie Jaden Ivey had 16 points for Detroit.
The Pistons have lost three straight.
The Lakers led 61-49 at halftime, but Bogdanovic scored a career-high 25 points in the third quarter to pull the Pistons back into the game.
Knicks 112, Kings 99: Julius Randle and RJ Barrett each scored 27 points and host New York ran its winning streak to a season-high four games with a victory over Sacramento.
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.
Jalen Brunson added 18 points, and Immanuel Quickley and Mitchell Robinson each had 12. Damantas Sabonis led Sacramento with 20 points.
Keegan Murray had 18 and Kevin Huerter 17 as the Kings were held under 100 points for the first time this season.