Hall of Fame
One of five players in NCAA history to average at least 20 points and 20 rebounds per game along with Bill Russell, Julius Erving, Kermit Washington and Artis Gilmore, Paul Silas played a lot bigger than his 6-foot-7, 225-pound frame would indicate.
A native of Prescott, Arizona, Silas is one of four Creighton men’s basketball student-athletes to have their jersey number retired.
The holders of the CU school mark for most rebounds in a career (1,751) -- most in NCAA history for a three-year career -- Silas lists sixth in NCAA history for career boards -- more than any player in the last 55 years.
During his Bluejay career, he averaged an amazing 21.6 rebounds per game. In fact, he once collected 38 rebounds in a college contest versus Centenary on Feb. 19, 1962.
He had nine tilts in his college career where he grabbed 30 or more boards and is the only player in NCAA history with two games of 36 or more rebounds.
He finished his collegiate career as the Bluejays’ third-leading scorer (1,661) in CU history and is currently eighth.
Silas still ranks fifth on the NCAA single-season rebound list with 631 in 1964 -- only man in NCAA history with three seasons of 557 or more boards.
He was an All-American in each of his three years on the CU varsity and was named a CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American in 1964.
The 10th overall pick -- by the St. Louis Hawks -- in the 1964 NBA Draft, he collected more than 11,000 points and 11,000 rebounds during his distinguished 16-year career.
An NBA All-Star selection in 1972 and 1975, he earned All-NBA Defensive First-Team honors twice and All-NBA Defensive Second-Team laurels three times.
A member of three NBA Championship teams (1974, 1976 and 1979), he ranks 19th in NBA history with 12,357 rebounds.
He has served four different stints as an NBA head coach, with the San Diego Clippers (1980-83), Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets (1998-2003), Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-05) and currently the Charlotte Bobcats (2010-present).
In 2001 and 2002, Silas, who has a 380-429 record in 10-plus NBA seasons, guided Charlotte to the conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs.