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Paul Silas dies at 79: NBA world reacts to death of legendary player and trailblazing head coach

Gilbert McGregor

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Paul Silas dies at 79: NBA world reacts to death of legendary player and trailblazing head coach image

Paul Silas, longtime NBA veteran and head coach, has died at the age of 79.

On Sunday, Dec. 11, the Rockets organization confirmed early reports of Silas' passing, sharing a statement expressing condolences to the Silas family. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas is the son of Paul Silas and got his start in coaching as an assistant under his father.

Silas was drafted 12th overall by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1964 NBA Draft, and enjoyed a 16-year NBA career with five teams. A 6-foot-7 forward, Silas earned five All-Defensive Team selections, made two All-Star appearances and won three NBA titles during his time with the Celtics.

Upon retiring in 1980, Silas began his coaching career as head coach of the San Diego Clippers, a title he held for three seasons. He returned to coaching as an assistant with the Nets in 1988 and held various assistant positions before taking over as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets 16 games into the lockout-shortened 1999-2000 season.

Silas led the Hornets franchise to the postseason in each of the three full seasons that he was at the helm, leading Charlotte to the second round in the 2001 and 2002 NBA Playoffs before the franchise relocated to New Orleans ahead of the 2002-03 season, effectively making Silas the first head coach in New Orleans' franchise history.

After the New Orleans Hornets were eliminated in the first round of the 2003 NBA Playoffs, he was let go by the franchise and subsequently hired by the Cavaliers, owners of the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. In addition to being the first head coach in New Orleans franchise history, Silas is also LeBron James' first head coach, a title he held prior to being let go late in the 2004-05 season.

The final stop of Silas' coaching career was back in Charlotte, where he led the then-Bobcats for a season and a half before stepping into an advisory role with the franchise.

A number of NBA players past and present, writers and teams have taken to social media to pay their respects to Silas, a legendary player, coach and person.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.