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Boston Celtics: 25 Best Players To Play For The Celtics

By Phil Watson

Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; A general view of TD Garden prior to the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1976: Paul Silas #35 of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound away from Wes Unseld #41 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1976 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Silas played for the Celtics from 1972-76. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paul Silas; Wes Unseld
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1976: Paul Silas #35 of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound away from Wes Unseld #41 of the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1976 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Silas played for the Celtics from 1972-76. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paul Silas; Wes Unseld /

Paul Silas. 16. player. 18. <strong> How Acquired: </strong>Trade, Phoenix Suns, Sept. 18, 1972. PF. 1972-76

Paul Silas had been an All-Star in 1972, but had never gone deep into the playoffs before coming to the Boston Celtics with cash in September 1972 to complete a trade six months earlier that sent the rights to Charlie Scott to the Phoenix Suns.

Silas was an All-Star in 1975 for the Celtics and was a three-time All-Defensive selection while helping Boston to NBA titles in 1974 and 1976.

BOS_16_SILAS
BOS_16_SILAS /

He also finished fourth in the NBA in rebounding in 1975-76.

Silas remained with the Celtics until October 1976, when he was dealt to the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team deal that brought Curtis Rowe to Boston from the Detroit Pistons.

In four seasons with the Celtics, Silas averaged 11.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 32.4 minutes per game, shooting 43.9 percent from the floor and 72.5 percent from the foul line.

Silas had earned All-America honors as a senior at Creighton, averaging 18.5 points and 21.8 rebounds per game and averaging 20/20 for his three-year varsity career (20.5 points and 21.6 rebounds).

The St. Louis Hawks took Silas in the second round of the 1964 NBA Draft. Heplayed five seasons with that franchise, one after it moved to Atlanta. He was traded to the Suns in May 1969.

After leaving Boston, Silas played one season with the Nuggets before being dealt to the Seattle SuperSonics, where he won a third NBA title in 1979.

Silas retired in 1980 and jumped right into coaching, spending three seasons at the helm of the San Diego Clippers before he was fired after the 1982-83 season.

He bounced around assistant jobs for much of the next two decades before getting another shot as a head coach with the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. He was not retained after five seasons, including the franchise’s first season in New Orleans.

From there, he coached the Cleveland Cavaliers for parts of two seasons and was coach of the Charlotte Bobcats for parts of two seasons. In 12 campaigns, he has a career record of 387-488.

He is also 30th in NBA history with 1,254 games, 20th with 12,357 rebounds and 48th with an average of 9.9 rebounds per game.

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