Former NBA coach Paul Silas has died, his family revealed through the Houston Rockets. Silas was LeBron James' first coach in the league.
"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."
"Paul made a huge contribution to the game of basketball and will be sorely missed!" Hall of Fame guard and Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson wrote on Twitter. "My dad, obviously, he was my No. 1 mentor, someone who I could lean on, ask questions and he asked questions of me," Stephen Silas said in a 2021 documentary produced by the Rockets about his coaching journey. "He really valued my opinion, which was kind of weird to me, me being so young and not having much experience."
Eventually, Silas would take over in Cleveland. He got there in 2003, the same year the Cavaliers drafted James. He was a five-time All-Defensive 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. He averaged 12.8 points and 13.8 rebounds in the 1976 Finals for Boston against the Suns.
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