As a top assistant coach in Dallas, Stephen Silas had a key role in the offense that recently became the most efficient in NBA history.
It appears that he already has a vision for how that could potentially work in his new job as head coach of the Houston Rockets.
Here’s what ESPN’s Mark Jones said of the team’s hiring process:
The Houston Rockets won this hire. Stephen Silas ran the Mavs’ offense. I’m told he blew the Rockets’ brass away with his presentation. His offensive vision for Houston.
Luka [Doncic] said: “I’m going to miss him a lot, Houston got a great coach, he’s a big reason for my growth as a player.”
The @HoustonRockets won this hire. Stephen Silas ran the Mavs offense. I’m told he blew the Rockets brass away with his presentation.His offensive vision for Houston.
Luka said..”I'm going to miss him a lot, Houston got a great coach, he's a big reason for my growth as a player." pic.twitter.com/vAb2ltf9mX— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) October 29, 2020
Doncic took to social media to express his support for Silas, as did team owner Mark Cuban. Head coach Rick Carlisle concurred.
In addition to Houston executives, key players (including All-Star guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook, presumably) were on board with the Silas hire following a Zoom call on Tuesday night, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “A key last step to feel as if all were on board with the decision,” Feigen said, citing a source.
In the end, it appears that they were, and Silas edged out finalists Jeff Van Gundy and John Lucas for the job. At only 47 years old, Silas doesn’t have the prior head coaching experience that those two do. He does, however, have a plan — and that plan seems to have secured him the job.
Rockets had moved increasingly
toward Silas over the weekend and in the days since; had a Zoom call with many players last night, a key last step to feel as if all were on board with the decision, a source said. https://t.co/foOg7N1If3— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) October 28, 2020
