Paul Silas, a three-time NBA champion who went onto coach in the league for more than three decades, has died, according to longtime Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan. Silas was 79 years old.
Silas, known as one of the preeminent rebounding and defensive forwards of his era, played in the NBA for 16 seasons after he was drafted in the second round by the Hawks in 1964. Despite a tepid start to his career, he went onto to become a double-double machine in stints with the Suns and Celtics, the two teams that he spent the majority of his time with as a player.
Silas won two NBA championships (1974, ’76) in Boston as well as one with the SuperSonics in ’79. He was named an All-Star twice, in ’72 and ’75, and was a five-time All-Defensive player, earning first-team honors twice (’75 and ’76) and second-team honors three times (1971–73).
