Why the Houston Rockets were drawn to Stephen Silas

After a lengthy head coaching search, the Houston Rockets ultimately decided to hire Stephen Silas, for a number of reasons.

The Houston Rockets found themselves on the market for a head coach after Mike D’Antoni alerted the front office of his intentions to part ways with the franchise, following their season-ending defeat to the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets would go on to have a rather extensive and lengthy search, which resulted in former Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Stephen Silas landing the head coaching job. Although this marks the first head coaching experience for Silas, he’s been around the league for 20 years, which is simply experience that can’t be substituted.

On Sunday night, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle spoke about why the Rockets were sold on Silas, who many in the Rockets fanbase were clamoring for. Feigen joined Texas Sports Nation and explained what made Silas the ideal candidate for the Rockets’ brass.

Why the Houston Rockets were drawn to Stephen Silas

“From just a tactical basketball standpoint, the job he’s done offensively throughout his career, and most notably with the Mavericks last year, where they had the best offensive rating in NBA history, jumps out at you.

But the thing that people talk about, when they talk about him, and this has been true for a long time, he’s a really smart guy. He comes off as the Ivy Leaguer that he is, unpretentious about it, it just comes through, in that his coaching style is very much a low-key, even-keel demeanor.

His father, Paul Silas, long-time coach, great rebounder in the NBA, All-Star, much more fiery style. He’s going to be more of the Brad Stevens type, where he talks straight with the guys, he brings them in, and guys like playing for him.

And they always have. Superstars have. Curry, LeBron James, Kemba Walker, Luka Doncic. The star guys he’s worked with have really liked playing for him and working with him. And alot of that comes from that personal style. Very low-key, even-keel demeanor.”

Silas was the architect of the Dallas Mavericks’ offense during the 2019-20 season, which ranks as the best offense in NBA history. Silas has also been around legendary coaches, such as Don Nelson and Rick Carlisle, who are both destined for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, not to mention the experience he had coaching under his father, Paul Silas, as Feigen pointed out.

In addition, Silas brings cache, as he’s coached superstars, such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kemba Walker, Luka Doncic, Dwight Howard, and Kristaps Porzingis, which bodes well for his chances of thriving in the Space City.