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LeBron James Had Emotional Tribute For Paul Silas After He Passed Away
David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James opened up on the news of his rookie head coach Paul Silas passing away.

LeBron James came into the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He was arguably the greatest prospect that ever came into the NBA, as he was a complete 18-year-old who projected for greatness like no one before him. Coaching this player as a rookie was going to be a challenge, but Paul Silas was up for it.

LeBron was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and put under the guidance of Coach Silas, who shaped LeBron's play style for the first 2 seasons of his career. The news of Silas passing away over the weekend hit the NBA world hard, and LeBron paid tribute to the man who coached him when he entered the league.

“Probable one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever been around. The start of my journey in this league started with him. His command, his principles, his attention to detail, but his love for family. I feel for his whole family, his beautiful wife, and obviously Stephen Silas down in Houston. Every time I would go back to Charlotte he would always come to the games. And I would always try to look for him in the crowd. To hear that news is very sad. For myself and my teammates that played with Coach Silas those years in Cleveland, our well-wishes and hearts go out to the Silas family.”

Silas began his career as a head coach with the San Diego Clippers in 1980. After a couple of years there, he'd become an assistant coach for a decade before leading the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Charlotte Bobcats as head coach.

The Incredible Life And Career Of Paul Silas

Coach Paul Silas won 3 NBA championships during his playing days, 2 with the Boston Celtics and 1 with the Seattle SuperSonics. He is best remembered for his efforts as a coach, as he became one of the best assistants in the league before getting the opportunity to lead a team. He led the Charlotte Hornets to 3 consecutive playoff appearances in the late-90s and early 2000s.

His son, Stephen Silas, had a similar struggle as he served as an assistant coach around the league for 2 decades before becoming a head coach with the Houston Rockets. His passing will leave a massive hole in the heart of the NBA fraternity. We at Fadeaway World send our deepest condolences to the Silas family. 

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This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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