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Former NBA star player and coach Paul Silas has passed away

STATEMENT FROM CHARLOTTE HORNETS CHAIRMAN MICHAEL JORDAN

Charlotte Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan released the following statement today regarding the passing of former Head Coach Paul Silas:

“Our Hornets family mourns the passing of Paul Silas. Paul was an incredible leader and motivator who served as our head coach on two occasions. He combined the knowledge developed over nearly 40 years as an NBA player and coach with an innate understanding of how to mix discipline with his never-ending positivity. On or off the court, Paul’s enthusiastic and engaging personality was accompanied by an anecdote for every occasion. He was one of the all-time great people in our game, and he will be missed. My thoughts, and the thoughts of our entire organization, are with his wife, Carolyn; his children, Paula and Stephen; and the entire Silas family.”

ABOUT PAUL SILAS

Paul Silas spent eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets across two different stints with the franchise. During his first tenure, in which he spent two-and-a-half seasons as an assistant coach before becoming interim head coach to conclude the 1998-99 season, he posted a record of 161-120 (.573). In each of his three full seasons, the Hornets won at least 44 games and made the playoffs, advancing to the second round in both 2000-01 and 2001-02. He returned to Charlotte to once again become interim head coach during the 2010-11 season and remained the team’s head coach in 2011-12.

Silas ranks third in franchise history in games coached (401), games won (193) and winning percentage (.481), and is the all-time leader in each of the three categories for playoff games with an overall record of 11-12 (.478) in 23 games total. He is the only head coach in franchise history to lead the team to three playoff appearances and two Eastern Conference Semifinals appearances. The team’s three straight playoff berths from 1999-2000 through 2001-02 is the only time in franchise history that the Hornets have gone to the playoffs in three straight seasons.

Following four years at Creighton in which he became one of only five players in NCAA history to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds in his college career, Silas played 16 seasons in the NBA, where he was a three-time NBA Champion (1973-74 Celtics, 1975-76 Celtics and 1978-79 SuperSonics) and a two-time NBA All-Star (1971-72 and 1974-75). He retired after the 1979-80 season and immediately became head coach of the San Diego Clippers, spending three seasons in the role. In 12 seasons overall as an NBA head coach, Silas had a career record of 387-488 (.442).

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS STATEMENT ON PAUL SILAS

Paul Silas served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003-05. His engaging presence and huge personality inspired legions of NBA players and coaches. We send our deepest condolences to the Silas family and everyone that loved him. Rest in power Coach!

G League news and notes: Luka Samanic named Player of Month

AWARD WINNERS: On Friday, the NBA G League announced monthly award winners for November. Maine’s Luka Samanic (21.7 points, 11.4 rebounds) was named NBA G League Player of the Month after leading the Celtics to a conference-best 8-2 record. Ontario Clippers head coach Paul Hewitt was named NBA G League Coach of the Month after guiding the Clippers to a league-best 9-2 record.

ANOTHER ONE FOR GABE: Fort Wayne Mad Ants guard Gabe York was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Monday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 4. This is the second time this season York has won the award. York averaged 36.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, highlighted by a 43-point performance against Windy City on Dec. 3.

SURGING AHEAD: The South Bay Lakers (8-3), fueled by Scotty Pippen Jr. (23.8 ppg, 4.6 apg), finished the week on six-game winning streak, moving them towards the top of the West Region standings. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (9-3) also finished the week on a five-game winning streak, increasing its lead at the top of the South Region standings.

TOP PERFORMERS

On Dec. 4, Sioux Falls Skyforce center Orlando Robinson tallied career-highs with 27 points and 19 rebounds in a 142-96 win over the Wisconsin Herd.

Texas Legends guard Tyler Dorsey recorded 39 points, eight rebounds and five assists in a 139-129 victory over the Memphis Hustle on Nov. 29.

On Dec. 1, Raptors 905 forward Reggie Perry posted 24 points and 24 rebounds in a 127-117 loss to the Delaware Blue Coats.

Hawks guard Dejounte Murray injury update: ankle sprain

Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who suffered a left ankle injury during the first quarter of last night’s game at New York, underwent an MRI earlier today in New York. The MRI confirmed a left ankle sprain with associated swelling.

Murray will be out approximately two weeks and his return to play will be updated as appropriate.

Jazz guard Collin Sexton injury update: mild hamstring strain

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton:

Sexton was examined Thursday by the Utah Jazz medical staff and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) testing. The MRI revealed a mild hamstring strain in his right leg. He will be reevaluated in one week.

Sexton (6-1, 192, Alabama) is in his fifth NBA season and first with Utah, where he’s averaging 14.3 points on 49.3 percent from the field, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per contest during the 2022-23 season.

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert set for return to Utah

Tomorrow, Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert will face his former team, the Jazz, as a visitor in Utah for the first time. Via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Gobert said he has never been in the visitor’s locker room of the arena, and Friday is going to feel at least a little “weird.” The Wolves already faced the Jazz in Minnesota, and that was different for Gobert, but Friday he’ll a crowd that used to cheer him on for nearly a decade.

“I just want to enjoy the moment,” Gobert said. “There’s a lot of people that I have a lot of love for over there. There’s a lot of great memories. … I just want to enjoy the moment and, of course, get a win.”

Gobert helped the Wolves do that Wednesday against Indiana when he hit the go-ahead free throws and came up with a game-saving block on Buddy Hield to seal the win. Those plays were a part of Gobert’s 16-point, 21-rebound night.

It was one of Gobert’s best games in Minnesota, a game in which he might have been able to win over some of his teammates’ trust. Also on his side were the fans, who serenaded him with chants of “Rudy, Rudy,” in the final moments.

The Jazz are 15-12 this season, while the Timberwolves are 12-12.

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The latest on the Raptors

Via the Toronto Star:

One of the consistently overrated things that can happen in the course of an up-and-down NBA season is the impact that “players-only meetings” have on a team.

In the wake of a gathering of Raptors last week after an ugly loss in Brooklyn, a little group chat took place.

It wasn’t huge nor was it particularly contentious and even though they’ve played better since that night, putting too much stock in the meeting is wrong.

“Just talking things out,” one player said this week.

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Timberwolves sign Matt Ryan, waive A.J. Lawson

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Matt Ryan to a two-way contract.

And in a preceding move, the Wolves waived guard A.J. Lawson.

Ryan, 25, most recently played 12 games this season for the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 3.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game. His best game of the season came on Nov. 2 at New Orleans after finishing with a career-high 11 points, including connecting on three three-pointers and two rebounds. Ryan played one game for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22 and totaled three points and one steal. The 6-6 forward played in 30 career G League games (20 starts) and averaged 19.4 points on 46.9% shooting, including 41.3% from deep, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

The White Plains, N.Y. native spent time at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and ultimately finished his collegiate career at Chattanooga. In 134 college games (62 starts), Ryan totaled 1,058 points, 333 rebounds and 121 assists.

Ryan will wear #37 for the Timberwolves, becoming the first player in franchise history to sport #37.

Heat notes: rookie Nikola Jovic

Via the Miami HErald:

On Friday, rookie Nikola Jovic was in Boston with the Miami Heat. On Saturday and Sunday, Jovic was in South Dakota with the Heat’s G League affiliate. And on Monday, Jovic was back with the Heat in Memphis before returning with the team to Miami for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons.

The last few days have been a whirlwind for Jovic, but the 19-year-old Serbian forward was not surprised when he was told Friday to take a flight to South Dakota to join the Sioux Falls Skyforce for one G League game.

“Nothing was a surprise,” Jovic said, as the Heat returned to Miami following Monday’s 101-93 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies to open a three-game homestand on Tuesday against the Pistons. “I knew at one moment that I was going to go because they told me they want me to play a little bit. At this moment, there was no space for me to be on the court with the Heat guys. But they told me they want me to play. So I kind of knew [I would go to the G League], I just didn’t know when. It just happened to be now and I was really happy.”

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