Learning about Paul Silas

People forget that Paul Silas came out of Oakland -- Jonathan Abrams fills readers in on the long life of an individual who has seen and experienced so much in basketball.

A snippet:

"...All the serious players convened at West Oakland’s DeFremery Park. As a kid in the mid-1950s, Silas would watch Bill Russell play three-on-three all day. Russell, who is about nine years older than Silas, was a star for the University of San Francisco back then. “Nobody could beat him the whole day,” Silas said, “until the end, someone could beat him maybe one game when he was tired.” Silas would eventually follow in Russell’s footsteps at McClymonds High School, which Silas led to a 68-0 record in three varsity seasons. But Silas’s beginnings in basketball and in life were humble..."