Paul Silas, a former NBA coach with multiple teams and a championship player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday morning at the age of 79. His son, Stephen Silas, is head coach of the Houston Rockets.
“The Fertitta family and the Rockets organization are deeply saddened by the passing of Paul Silas, father of Rockets head coach Stephen Silas,” the team said in a statement. “Our heartfelt thoughts are with Stephen and his family during this difficult time.”
“Paul Silas was a three-time NBA champion and a premier rebounder and defender during his 16 seasons before serving as coach for over two decades, including several years with Stephen working alongside him,” Sunday’s statement concludes.
Per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Silas will not be with the team for Sunday’s home game versus Milwaukee. Veteran assistant John Lucas will replace Silas on the sidelines, as he did when Silas missed time in October after contracting COVID-19.
With 387 career victories, the elder Silas ranks in the top 55 of all-time coaching wins after stints with the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Bobcats. Stephen worked for his father in some sort of assistant capacity at multiple stops along the way, effectively giving him an introduction to the world of NBA coaching.
