By Omotayo Edubi
Paul Silas, former NBA coach, and player died aged 79.
Silas is the father of the current Houston Rockets Stephen Silas Paul played 16 seasons in the NBA winning three NBA championships.
The cause of death has not been revealed by the Silas family.
Paul Silas won three NBA rings as a player.
Paul played 16 years in the NBA including a successful spell at the Boston Celtics between 1972 to 1976 where he helped them win their first championship after the late Bill Russell’s retirement.
He averaged 11.5 points and 12.3 rebounds for those Celtics teams, Washington Post reports.
Silas also played for the Hawks in St. Louis and Atlanta, the Phoenix Suns, and the Denver Nuggets.
He ended his career on a high, winning the 1979 championship with the Seattle SuperSonics, before retiring after the 1979-80 season.
Silas began his coaching career 42 years ago, in 1980 as an assistant at the then-San Diego Clippers.
He was fired in 1983 and had to wait until 1999 to get another head coaching job.
He coached for over 12 seasons as head coach finishing with a 387-488 record with the Clippers.
He also had two stints in Charlotte, first with the Hornets then a few years later with the Bobcats.
Between the two stints, he coached the New Orleans Hornets and LeBron James’ first two seasons in the NBA.
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan paid tribute to Silas, calling him an incredible leader and motivator.