Xavier Silas has, if nothing else, an interesting backstory.
Now he hopes to write some new chapters, in his return to the Sixers.
The rookie guard was promoted Tuesday from the teams Developmental League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. And he figures to see some time in the teams last two regular-season games at Milwaukee Wednesday and at Detroit Thursday since head coach Doug Collins will rest Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young.
Son of a retired pro player his dad, James, played 10 seasons (1972-82), most of those with the Spurs and godson of Sixers legend Julius Erving, Xavier is also a former workout partner of Clippers guard Chauncey Billups. Not to mention a guy who averaged 22.3 points a game last year at Northern Illinois, seventh-most in the country.
He spent training camp and the preseason with the Sixers, but didnt make the team. While it appeared he could shoot, he did not seem comfortable playing point guard, the position at which the Sixers most need him. And with the Red Claws he didnt shoot it all that well, either, making 40.1 percent of his attempts from the field and just 29.5 percent from the three-point arc, while averaging 9.8 points a game.
James Silas, who lives in Austin, Tex., and works as Southwest Regional Director of the Midnight Basketball League, said in December that Xavier was the only one of seven kids born to him and his wife Vanessa drawn to basketball. James didnt let him play organized ball until he was in sixth grade You can start too early, the elder Silas said but taught him everything he could.
The foremost lessons, James said, were these: Always bring your A game, even if its a pickup game or practice. Always play hard. Try to be the best defender on the floor.
James knew Erving from playing against him, and the two of them remained close after their careers were over, to the point that they have vacationed together. Xavier said in the preseason that he too had a pretty cool relationship with Dr. J, that Erving would often call to give him pep talks before big games in college.
Xavier, who spent his first two college seasons at Colorado, met Billups through Ricardo Patton, then the coach of the Buffaloes. And Billups, who played for the Nuggets at the time, asked Silas to come to Denver to work out.
Its a whole nother way that he thinks, Silas said in December. I want to get there.
The Sixers were one of 10 teams to work him out before last Junes draft, and when he wasnt selected they informed him of their intentions to bring him to camp. The lockout intervened he played in France while a labor agreement was being hammered out and then he did in fact land with the Sixers, however briefly.
Now its time to start over. And, perhaps, fashion some new chapters in the process.
Gordie Jones is an award-winning journalist who has worked in the Philadelphia market for 28 years. He also co-authored a book about the 76ers' 1982-83 championship team with former Sixers general manager Pat Williams.