Paul Silas, who won three NBA championships and was a College Basketball Hall of Famer, died Sunday at the age of 79, his family confirmed. No cause of death was announced.
“We mourn the passing of former NBA All-Star and head coach Paul Silas,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Paul’s lasting contributions to the game are evident in the many players and coaches he has inspired, including his son, Rockets head coach Stephen Silas. We extend our deepest condolences to Paul’s family.”
Silas coached the San Diego clippers for three years, then a decade as an assistant coach. He later returned with the in the top seat Charlotte Hornetsthe New Orleans Hornets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Bobcats.
He took four of those teams to the playoffs and won exactly 400 games – 387 in the regular season, 13 more in the postseason.
Hornets owner Michael Jordan remembered Silas as an “incredible leader”.
“Our Hornets family mourns the passing of Paul Silas. Paul was an incredible leader and motivator, having been our head coach twice,” Jordan said in a statement. “He combined the knowledge gained in nearly 40 years as an NBA player and coach with an innate understanding of how to balance discipline with his never-ending positivity. On or off the pitch, Paul’s enthusiastic and engaging personality was accompanied by an anecdote for every occasion. He was one of the greatest people ever in our game and we will miss him. My thoughts and the thoughts of our entire organization are with his wife, Carolyn; his children Paula and Stephen; and the whole Silas family.”
Hall of fame guard and Los Angeles Lakers The great Magic Johnson wrote on Twitter, “Paul made a huge contribution to the game of basketball and will be sorely missed!”
Silas was a two-time NBA All-Star and five-time All-Defensive team pick in 16 NBA seasons with the Hawks, Celtics, Supersonics, Suns and Nuggets. A three-time All-American at Creighton, Silas was elected to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Silas is survived by his wife Carolyn, a son, Stephen, daughter Paula, a stepdaughter, Donna Turner, three grandchildren; and two stepchildren.