Paul Silas, Father of Houston Rockets Coach Stephen, Dies Aged 79

• Paul Silas, former NBA coach and the player has died aged 79
• Silas is the father of the current Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas
• Paul played 16 seasons in the NBA winning three NBA championships
• He also coached LeBron James in his first two seasons in the league

Paul Silas, three-time NBA champion and LeBron James' first coach has passed away aged 79.

Paul is the father of current Houston Rockets coach Stephen. The cause of death has not been revealed by the Silas family.

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.

Ranking the top 10 players with the most steals in an NBA game

NBA

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.

Paul Silas coaching career

Paul 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.

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His son Stephen was introduced to coaching by his father in the early 2000s. He began as a scout. He served as an assistant in his father's staff in Charlotte and then had to wait for two decades to get his first head coaching job.

Steph Curry's no-look three-pointer

Sports Brief earlier reported on Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry sinking an incredible no-look 30-foot buzzer-beater against the Boston Celtics.'

With the clock winding down in the first quarter, the 34-year-old got Celtics forward Sam Hauser on a switch and put some moves on him before connecting a step-back 3-pointer as the buzzer rang.

In true Curry fashion, he turned his back on his 30-foot attempt before it went through the net, NBC Sports reports.