Lifetime learning from father prepared Silas for Rockets job

Growing up with an NBA coach as a far, Stephen Silas started his education into ins and outs of coaching long before he chose it as a career.

When he decided to pursue profession, it was his far, w-retired Paul Silas who gave him his first job as an assistant with Charlotte Hornets. Twenty years later, younger Silas continues to follow in his far’s footsteps as he begins his first head coaching job with Houston Rockets.

“ reason I’m here is because of him, reason I’m prepared for this position is because I’ve been preparing for this all my life,” Silas said Thursday after being introduced in Houston following his hiring Friday.

Rockets hired Silas after Mike D’Antoni decided t to return when his contract expired following Houston’s loss to Lakers in Western Conference semifinals.

Along with Hornets, 47-year-old Silas has worked as an assistant in Cleveland, Washington, Golden State and has spent last three seasons in Dallas. He kws those years of experience have helped prepare him for this opportunity but believes being exposed to great coaches as a child helped shape him as well.

“It’s been being in locker rooms for years when I was little,” he said. “My dad coached with Chuck Daly and Pat Riley and I was re and watching film with my dad. And all things and people that I’ve met and things that I’ve learned over those years, that’s what makes me ready for this position.”

Paul Silas won three NBA titles during a 16-year playing career before spending next 32 years in various NBA coaching positions. He was head coach of San Diego Clippers, Hornets, Cavaliers and Bobcats.

Stephen Silas played for Brown in Ivy League. He recalled moment he phoned his w 77-year-old far to tell him that he’d been hired by Rockets.

“It was amazing,” he said adding that he's already sent him a box of Rockets' gear. “It was best feeling in world because he gave me my first opportunity and asked me, do you want to coach?”

Silas inherits a team led by stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook that has been to playoffs in each of last eight seasons.

“For me it being my first head coaching experience and being in a win- w situation that’s great,” Silas said. “I’m a win-w coach. So, to t have to deal with growing and all that type of stuff, to think championship right away is exciting to me and I prepared for it and I’m ready for it.”

Silas doesn’t have any major changes planned for team, but just wants to try and improve on what has already been successful. He met with both Harden and Westbrook during interview process and was impressed with ir team-first attitude.

“I didn’t kw eir guy very well coming into situation,” Silas said. “So, for m to be talking less about stats or offense or whatever and talking more about, hey, we have an opportunity to win and win big, that was so gratifying.”

Silas will work under new general manr Rafael Stone, who was also introduced Thursday after being promoted last month when Daryl Morey stepped down. Stone, who most recently served as Houston’s executive vice president of basketball operations, has worked in team’s front office for last 15 years.

He said his new position shouldn’t be that big of a transition because he and Morey worked “hand-in-hand” over past few years. Morey was hired as Philadelphia’s president of basketball operations on Monday.

Stone was coy when asked about his plans for upgrading roster as Rockets chase ir first title since winning back-to-back trophies in 1994-95.

“We have an immensely talented roster... goal is to bring in ar guy or two who can really complement se guys,” he said. “And re are a variety of mechanisms we can use to do it. And we’ll be just incredibly aggressive about making that happen.”

Im credits: AP