James Silas
Encyclopedia
James Edward Silas is a retired American professional basketball
player, at the guard position. Silas played the majority of his career with the Dallas Chaparrals
/San Antonio Spurs
of the ABA
/NBA
. His nicknames include "The Snake", "Captain Late" and "The Late Mr. Silas", the latter two referring to the fact that Silas seemed to play his best late in games.
in Nacogdoches
, Texas
. In his senior year Silas led Stephen F. Austin to a 29-1 record, averaging 30.7 points per game. Silas was also named an NAIA
All-American twice in his college career.
by the Houston Rockets
. However, he was waived by the Rockets before the 1972-73 season even began. Babe McCarthy
, who was coaching the Dallas Chaparrals
of the American Basketball Association
(ABA) at the time, decided to take a chance on Silas, and Silas signed with the Chaparrals in November 1972. Silas would prove his worth, and at the end of the season he was named to the ABA All-Rookie team.
Following the 1972-73 season, the Chaparrals were sold and moved to San Antonio, becoming the San Antonio Spurs
. Silas was named to the ABA All-Star team in 1975 and 1976, as well as the All-ABA 2nd team in 1975 and All-ABA 1st team in 1976. Silas's best year statistics-wise was easily 1976, when he averaged 23.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game; the points and assists per game would prove to be the highest in his career.
Silas played for the Spurs for eight seasons (nine if the one season with the Dallas Chaparrals is included), including five years in the NBA after the Spurs moved into that league in 1977. Following the 1981 season Silas was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers
, where he played for one year before retiring.
Silas was an exceptional free throw shooter throughout his entire career, ranking in the top 10 in free throw percentage in six separate seasons, and finishing with a career free-throw percentage of 85.5%.
On February 28, 1984, Silas's #13 became the first number ever retired by the San Antonio Spurs, and he is currently one of only six players to have received that honor from the franchise.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, at the guard position. Silas played the majority of his career with the Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
/San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
of the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
/NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. His nicknames include "The Snake", "Captain Late" and "The Late Mr. Silas", the latter two referring to the fact that Silas seemed to play his best late in games.
College
Silas played college basketball at Stephen F. Austin State UniversityStephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
in Nacogdoches
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In his senior year Silas led Stephen F. Austin to a 29-1 record, averaging 30.7 points per game. Silas was also named an NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
All-American twice in his college career.
Professional
Silas was drafted in the fifth round of the 1972 National Basketball Association Draft1972 NBA Draft
The 1972 NBA Draft was the 26th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 10, 1972 before the 1972–73 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. However, he was waived by the Rockets before the 1972-73 season even began. Babe McCarthy
Babe McCarthy
James Harrison "Babe" McCarthy , sometimes called "Ol' Magnolia Mouth" or just "Magnolia Mouth", was an American professional and collegiate basketball coach. McCarthy was originally from Baldwyn, Mississippi...
, who was coaching the Dallas Chaparrals
Dallas Chaparrals
The Dallas Chaparrals were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, later becoming the San Antonio Spurs and joining the NBA.The team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
(ABA) at the time, decided to take a chance on Silas, and Silas signed with the Chaparrals in November 1972. Silas would prove his worth, and at the end of the season he was named to the ABA All-Rookie team.
Following the 1972-73 season, the Chaparrals were sold and moved to San Antonio, becoming the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
. Silas was named to the ABA All-Star team in 1975 and 1976, as well as the All-ABA 2nd team in 1975 and All-ABA 1st team in 1976. Silas's best year statistics-wise was easily 1976, when he averaged 23.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game; the points and assists per game would prove to be the highest in his career.
Silas played for the Spurs for eight seasons (nine if the one season with the Dallas Chaparrals is included), including five years in the NBA after the Spurs moved into that league in 1977. Following the 1981 season Silas was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, where he played for one year before retiring.
Silas was an exceptional free throw shooter throughout his entire career, ranking in the top 10 in free throw percentage in six separate seasons, and finishing with a career free-throw percentage of 85.5%.
On February 28, 1984, Silas's #13 became the first number ever retired by the San Antonio Spurs, and he is currently one of only six players to have received that honor from the franchise.