Posted on 12/12/2022 1:17:09 AM PST by blueplum
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....
...Paul 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....
...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. At 36, he was then the NBA’s oldest player when he retired....
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Helluva player with an all-around skill set; and an even better man (as far as I know).
I was a big Celtics fan growing up and would watch every game I could. I always watched him, because I thought he was the best defensive player I’ve ever seen. He was textbook on blocking out the opponent for rebounding.
RIP Paul... You were a great Basketball player. (When you see Kevin McHale and Pistol Pete, tell them hello and wish the NBA had people like you and them now).
My Paul Silas moment:
I’m a lifelong Suns fan, and was seriously angered that the Silas/Hawkins teams of 69-72 TWICE had the third best record in the entire league, but couldn’t make the playoffs under the NBA system then.
Silas was a relentless rebounder, even though he couldn’t jump over a crack in the sidewalk. He was a very good defender. Colangelo foolishly traded him for Charlie Scott, a good scorer but the whole fabric of the team fell apart without Silas.
I met Silas in Disneyland, just a brief encounter.
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