On this day in Celtics history, John Havlicek, Dan Swartz, Mark Minor, and Guerschon Yabusele debuted, Antoine Walker and Paul Silas were traded, Ed Mikan was born, and Justin Reed left us.
On this day in Boston Celtics history, legendary Celtics small forward and future Hall of Famer John Havlicek played the very first game of his storied career with Boston in 1962.
A product of the Ohio State’s Buckeyes men’s basketball program, Hondo — as Havlicek was sometimes called — had been selected ninth overall in that year’s NBA draft, and played a major role for the team from the very first moment he played in the league, gracing the floor for 25 minutes of game time in his inaugural performance. That game happened to be a 149 – 116 obliteration of the New York Knicks, though Havlicek had a modest stat line in it.
The Martin’s Ferry native logged 6 points and 4 assists in the win.
There are more Boston Celtics in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame than players of any other team – but who else might be joining them from Boston’s ranks?
But who are the Celtics alumni with a good chance — or for that matter, any chance at all? We put together the following list of candidates with at least some shot at making the hall according to the essential reference of all things NBA statistics, excluding players who did not complete at least one full season with Boston to put some manageable limits on this exercise.
On this day, the Celtics became the first team to a 61-win season, and Boston traded Charlie Scott to the Suns for Paul Silas.
On this day in Boston Celtics history, the franchise became the first team in NBA history to win 61 games in a single season in 1965, besting their own record from the 1961-62 campaign.
The big win came in a 106 – 98 victory over the (then) San Francisco (now, Golden State) Warriors at the old Boston Garden that saw iconic Celtics center Bill Russell lead Boston with 20 points, 41 rebounds and 4 assists to secure the win. Veteran guard Sam Jones added 24 points and 5 boards, and forward chipped in John Havlicek 22 points and 6 rebounds.
The Celtics would close the season with one more win to push the record to 62 wins with a victory over the (then) Cincinnati Royals on March 21.
“I am in a unique position to be a young African-American coach, and I’m blessed to have an owner and a GM who believe in me,” Silas said.
As one of a small number of Black head coaches in the NBA, Stephen Silas is in a relatively rare position with the Houston Rockets. He also carries some unique perspective, since his father, Paul Silas, was an NBA player and a head coach in a different generation. Because of that connection, the younger Silas has been around the NBA his entire life.
Understandably, upon Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) in the United States, Silas felt compelled to share some of his personal stories from that journey with the team.
“I try to use every opportunity to shine a light on things going on in the world,” Silas told reporters before Monday night’s game in Chicago. “Martin Luther King Day is a special day to me, and to the whole country. I just tried to point out the fact that he was so selfless.”
Silas said he told the team about his father, who wasn’t able to go into certain restaurants and hotels — even as an NBA player.
“I told them about my dad who came into the NBA in 1964. There were restaurants and hotels my father wasn’t able to go into at all, or not allowed to go into the front door. It’s really not that far away. So there’s a lot that has been improved, but we still have a long way to go.”
Stephen Silas shared some of what he discussed with his players as it relates to Martin Luther King Day: “I told them about my dad who came into the NBA in 1964.There were restaurants & hotels my father wasn’t..allowed to go into at all or not allowed to go into the front door..” pic.twitter.com/mCfobmaArh
Silas said he recognizes his unique role as a Black head coach, particularly in a league where Black players comprise the majority of NBA rosters but are not similarly represented in leadership positions.
“I am in a unique position to be a young African-American coach, and I’m blessed to have an owner [Tilman Fertitta] and a GM [Rafael Stone] who believe in me to be in this position,” Silas said on Monday. “I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity I have to teach, to listen, and really make it about more than basketball.”
See below for complete video of Silas’ remarks, along with social media tributes posted by other members of the team.
Ex-Boston Celtic big man Paul Silas had plenty of good things about his son Stephen’s hire as the next head coach of the Houston Rockets.
Former Boston Celtics big man and NBA coaching legend Paul Silas was very excited about his son Stephen being hired by the Houston Rockets as their next head coach this week, as most fathers likely would.
In an rare exclusive interview with Fox 26 Houston’s Mark Berman, the elder Silas shared his excitement about his son’s new coaching gig with the Rockets.
“He’s gonna be good,” opined the former Celtics swingman. “Man oh man, he’s got a good job.” It’s wonderful. I talked to him last week and I said ‘Stephen, this is gonna happen. I know it’s gonna happen.’ And it did.”
Paul Silas on son Stephen named #Rockets head coach: “He is a special coach. He was with me for a long time (as an ass’t). Stephen has paid his dues. He’s been doing a heck of a job & I’m so happy. When he starts working I told him I’m gonna go down there & see what he’s doing.”
“He said, ‘Dad, you were right.’ I’m so happy for him,” he added.
“He is a special coach. He was with me for a long time [as an assistant]. Stephen has paid his dues. He’s been doing a heck of a job, and I’m so happy. When he starts working, I told him I’m gonna go down there and see what he’s doing.”
Paul played power and small forward for the Celtics between 1972 and 1976, winning titles with the team in 1974 and 1976, then moving into coaching with the (then) San Diego (now, Los Angeles) Clippers for his first gig on the other side of the clipboard.
His son Stephen got into coaching working for his father and Celtic alumnus Don Nelson, serving in an assistant or scouting role for many teams around the league before landing his first head coaching role with the Rockets.
“He’s gonna be good,” the elder Silas told Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. “Man oh man, he’s got a good job. It’s wonderful.”
With 387 career victories, veteran NBA coach Paul Silas is currently in the Top 50 of all-time coaching wins. But he probably wouldn’t mind it if his son, Stephen, eventually makes a run at passing him on that list.
The elder Silas, who worked as head coach with the San Diego Clippers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Charlotte Bobcats, was understandably overjoyed on Friday at the news of his son officially receiving the head job with the Houston Rockets.
In an exclusive interview with Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, here’s what Paul Silas said regarding the hire by the Rockets:
He’s gonna be good. Man oh man, he’s got a good job. It’s wonderful. I talked to him last week and I said ‘Stephen, this is gonna happen. I know it’s gonna happen.’ And it did. He said, ‘Dad, you were right.’ I’m so happy for him.
He is a special coach. He was with me for a long time [as an assistant]. Stephen has paid his dues. He’s been doing a heck of a job, and I’m so happy. When he starts working, I told him I’m gonna go down there and see what he’s doing.
The official announcement by the Rockets can be read here. After working approximately 20 years in the NBA’s assistant ranks, this represents the first job as a full-time head coach for the younger Silas.
[lawrence-related id=39754,39681]
Paul Silas on son Stephen named the #Rockets head coach: “He’s gonna be good. Man oh man, he’s got a good job. It’s wonderful. I talked to him last week and I said Stephen this is gonna happen. I know it’s gonna happen and it did. He said dad you were right.I’m so happy for him.”
Paul Silas on son Stephen named #Rockets head coach: “He is a special coach. He was with me for a long time (as an ass’t). Stephen has paid his dues. He’s been doing a heck of a job & I’m so happy. When he starts working I told him I’m gonna go down there & see what he’s doing.”
On this day, the Boston Celtics dealt away the remainder of their 2008 title team to the Brooklyn Nets in one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.
On this day in 2013, the Boston Celtics dealt away the remainder of the 2008 title crew.
The Celtics traded big man Kevin Garnett, forward Paul Pierce, guard Jason Terry and forward D.J. White to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for forwards Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries, wing Keith Bogans, guard MarShon Brooks, forward Kris Joseph, three future first round draft picks and the right to swap first round picks in the 2017 NBA draft.
The move put an end to a 15-season career with the team for Pierce, and six for Garnett: Terry and White had played just one season each with Boston.
One of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, the Celtics would begin using the haul to rebuild immediately, and were only out of the playoffs for a single season after one of the better jobs rebuilding a program after its core aged out in recent league memory.
On this day in 1976, former Boston Celtics big man Paul Silas pulled down his 10,000th rebound and in 2008, the team held the Miami Heat to just 17 field goals.
On this day in 1976, Boston Celtics power forward Paul Silas of the Boston Celtics became the third player in NBA history to pull own 10,000 rebounds (Bill Russell and Bill Bridges were the other two) before he had scored as many points.
Silas is a native of Arkansas who played college ball with the Creighton Bluejays and in the NBA with the St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns before coming to the Celtics, where he won championships in 1974 and 1976.
The milestone came in a 93-83 loss to the Buffalo Braves, with Silas logging 10 points and 15 rebounds in the defeat.
It is also the anniversary of Boston tying an NBA record in 1986 with 27 consecutive home wins after they defeated the then-New Jersey Nets 122-117, equaling the total set by the then-Minneapolis Lakers in 1950.
The Celtics would extend their record to 38 games into the next season, finally losing to the Washington Bullets at Hartford Civic Center on Dec. 2, 1986.
In 2008 on this date, Boston limited the Miami Heat to a mere 17 field goals in an 88-62 blowout. This is the the lowest number of field goals in any NBA game since the introduction of the shot clock in 1954.
It is also the date of three Boston victories since the season of their last championship in 2007-08.
The first was the aforementioned 88-62 blowout of Miami in 2008, and post-game, Paul Pierce did not hold back with his criticism of the team the Heat fielded that season.
“Man, I am going to tell you the truth,” he began (via the Associated Press). “They got D-Leaguers out there, so I think we just handled our business,” said Pierce, referring to the NBA’s developmental league before it changed its name to the G League.
“We’re supposed to do that. We knew this was a game we were supposed to win, and we just focused from the jump and went out and did it.”
It is also the date Boston blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves 100-79, with then-35-year-old Garnett putting up a 24-point, 10-rebound performance to defeat his former team.
“I think KG took it personal tonight,” Minnesota’s Anthony Tolliver said courtesy of the Associated Press. “I’m sure he’s been hearing a lot of stuff about Kevin Love being the best power forward in the league.”
Finally, on this day in in 2015, the Celtics won a hard fought game against then-Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker’s Hornets.
The Massachusetts franchise won 116-104 despite 28 points and 12 assists from the UConn product, who mounted an intense assault in the final frame that ultimately fell short.
Boston moved back into eight place in the East to put themselves back into playoff contention with a 30-point, 8-rebound outing for guard Avery Bradley.
On this day, Boston Celtics forward Paul Silas was traded to the team from the Suns, and Boston became the 1st team to 61 wins in NBA history.
On March 14 1972, future Boston Celtic forward Paul Silas was traded to the Massachusetts franchise from the Phoenix Suns, and was not happy about it.
As compensation for relinquishing the draft rights for player Charlie Scott, legendary Celtics president Red Auerbach squeezed the Suns for assets, netting him the contract of Silas in return for letting Scott go to Phoenix.
The Arkansas native, having just bought a home in Arizona, was displeased even while aware of the growing mystique surrounding Boston.
“It was difficult … I just didn’t want to go, so Red Auerbach started talking to me and whatnot and I just didn’t have much to say,” explained Silas via Grantland’s Jonathan Abrams. “I did not want to go.”
Eventually, the team and particularly Auerbach would win over the reticent big man, who came around to the organization after some time with Red and his basketball-obsessed mind.
“I’d talk to him about basketball, about this, about that, whatever,” offered Silas . “It was just special. He was so smart and I began to love being there.”
Silas would go on to win two of his three rings with Boston in 1974 and 1976.
The Celtics also happened to become the first team to win 61 games 54 years ago today, as a John Havlicek, Tommy Heinsohn, Willie Naulls, Sam and KC Jones, and Bill Russell-led Celtics took the 1964-65 Celtics to the record number of victories with a 106-98 win against the San Francisco Warriors at home.
That iteration of the team would eventually go on to win the 1965 NBA championship against Boston’s oldest rival, the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel is named Western Conference coach of the month and is off to the best start during the first season with LeBron of any coach in James career.
Los Angeles Lakers bench boss Frank Vogel was named Western Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November, the NBA announced on Monday. Prior to dropping one to Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on December 1, Vogel had helped lead the Lakers to a 17-2 record to start the season. That mark tied L.A.’s best 19-game start and featured a 10-game winning streak to close out the month.
It doesn’t typically go this smoothly for head coaches who are working with LeBron for the first time to open a season. As a rookie under Paul Silas, James and the Cavaliers opened the year with five-game losing streak and added another eight-game losing streak before hitting the 20-game mark. When Mike Brown took over in Cleveland during the 2005-06 campaign, LeBron and the Cavs started 11-9.
In his first year with the Miami Heat under coach Erik Spoelstra, LeBron and the Heatles started just 12-8 despite featuring Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh alongside the King. Then, when James returned to Cleveland in 2014 and teamed up with coach David Blatt, the Cavaliers opened the season with a 5-7 record before eventually winning their next six games. Blatt would be fired shortly into the following year and replaced with Tyronn Lue during the season.
Not a bad first month on the job.
Congrats to Frank Vogel on being named Western Conference Coach of the Month! pic.twitter.com/dqAlkC2nTo
What’s maybe most encouraging for Lakers fans thus far is that Vogel has his team buying in on the defensive end of the floor. Los Angeles is currently top-five in defensive rating and blocks while LeBron continues to preach the importance of putting in work on that end of the floor. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis is a defensive player of the year candidate and the team is moving the ball well enough offensively to rank fourth in the NBA in assists.
Vogel, LeBron and the Lakers now travel to Denver tonight for a matchup with the 13-4 Nuggets. Led by Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, Denver currently occupies the second spot in the Western Conference, trailing L.A. by 2.5 games. If Vogel is going to go back-to-back with coach of the month honors and keep the good times rolling, that effort would start tonight with a big win on the road over a contending team like the Nuggets.
