BOSTON — Stephen Silas was born in Boston in 1973, shortly before Paul Silas won two championships with the Celtics in 1974 and 1976. That triggers memories each time he enters TD Garden, seeing those banners, but Tuesday’s embrace hit different.
Paul died on Dec. 10 at 79-years-old after a 48-year basketball career, only four of which came with the Celtics, where he played All-Defensive First Team level minutes at power forward next to John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White under Tommy Heinsohn. Stephen acknowledged that short tenure compared to other Celtics legends, but Boston handed on Silas pins and played a video tribute they sent to the Silas family ahead of time.