Former Boston Celtics big man and NBA coaching legend Paul Silas was very excited about his son Stephen being hired by the Houston Rockets as their next head coach this week, as most fathers likely would.
In an rare exclusive interview with Fox 26 Houston’s Mark Berman, the elder Silas shared his excitement about his son’s new coaching gig with the Rockets.
“He’s gonna be good,” opined the former Celtics swingman. “Man oh man, he’s got a good job.” It’s wonderful. I talked to him last week and I said ‘Stephen, this is gonna happen. I know it’s gonna happen.’ And it did.”
Paul Silas on son Stephen named #Rockets head coach: “He is a special coach. He was with me for a long time (as an ass’t). Stephen has paid his dues. He’s been doing a heck of a job & I’m so happy. When he starts working I told him I’m gonna go down there & see what he’s doing.”
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) October 30, 2020
“He said, ‘Dad, you were right.’ I’m so happy for him,” he added.
“He is a special coach. He was with me for a long time [as an assistant]. Stephen has paid his dues. He’s been doing a heck of a job, and I’m so happy. When he starts working, I told him I’m gonna go down there and see what he’s doing.”
Paul played power and small forward for the Celtics between 1972 and 1976, winning titles with the team in 1974 and 1976, then moving into coaching with the (then) San Diego (now, Los Angeles) Clippers for his first gig on the other side of the clipboard.
His son Stephen got into coaching working for his father and Celtic alumnus Don Nelson, serving in an assistant or scouting role for many teams around the league before landing his first head coaching role with the Rockets.
