What is the name of LeBron James's first NBA head coach?

LeBron James's first NBA head coach was Paul Silas. Silas coached the Cleveland Cavaliers when James entered the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2003 draft. James was only 18 years old, and Silas was tasked with guiding a highly hyped teenager making the difficult transition from high-school basketball to the professional game.

Silas had already built a long NBA career as both a player and coach. As a player, he won three championships, and as a coach he had led the Charlotte Hornets before taking over in Cleveland. His Cavaliers tenure lasted from 2003 to 2005, covering James's first two NBA seasons.

A common mix-up is confusing Silas with later Cavaliers coaches. Mike Brown coached Cleveland during much of James's first stint and took the team to the 2007 NBA Finals, while Tyronn Lue coached James during the Cavaliers' 2016 championship season. Erik Spoelstra coached James in Miami, not Cleveland. Silas was the first head coach James worked with in the NBA.