To understand Stephen Silas’s connection to Boston, consider his first words. “Jo Jo White,” says Silas laughing. White was a decade-long anchor of the 1970s Celtics and a teammate of Silas’s father, Paul, for four seasons. “Dad was pissed,” recalls Silas. “He wanted it to be Dad or Daddy. But I watched a lot of games back then. And I guess I said Jo Jo.”
Silas, the head coach of the Rockets, will be in Boston on Tuesday for the first time since Paul passed away earlier this month. Paul Silas played 16 seasons in the NBA as a bruising, 6'7" forward. He was drafted by St. Louis, made his first All-Star team in Phoenix and won a title in Seattle. But there was one franchise he truly connected with. “Boston,” says Stephen. “He loved being a Celtic.”
Silas became a Celtic in 1972, when Boston acquired him from Phoenix. He made an All-Defensive team in ’73 (the year Stephen was born), won a championship in ’74 and another in ’76. His ability to bang on the inside freed Dave Cowens to play more on the perimeter. His willingness to come off the bench when needed gave the Celtics enviable depth. He was traded following the ’76 season after a contract dispute, a less-than-amicable parting both sides would later admit to regretting.
