When Stephen Silas departed Capital One Arena Sunday afternoon, it marked a bitter end to a once-promising beginning as coach of the Houston Rockets. The Athletic reported the Rockets planned to part ways with Silas after three seasons as head coach Sunday afternoon. And 24 hours later, the franchise made the news official.
Winning 59 games in three years is not what Silas had in mind when he initially accepted the job in October 2020. But the success he endured in Houston goes beyond the wins he accumulated in 236 games.
"I feel proud, I wanted to be just like my dad [Paul Silas]," Silas said. "Obviously, the results weren't what I always wanted them to be. But I am walking out of the door with my head held high."
Silas' mentorship throughout the locker room was felt during the final weeks leading up to his jettison on April 10.
Jabari Smith Jr. credited Silas for keeping the team together during a disappointing 22-60 campaign, which led to the Rockets finishing the season by winning four of their final five games and nine since March 4.
Smith said Silas never lost faith in his players. And the confidence he instilled in his team kept them on the trajectory of finishing the 2022-23 season on a strong note.
But Smith cherishes the personal conversations he spent with Silas to get through the hardships of his rookie season.
The one-on-one times Silas held helped players overcome their struggles on and off the court. But his mentorship meant the most to Kevin Porter Jr.
"Everyone knows by now my relationship with Silas," Porter said. "He has been someone that welcomed me from day one, and it just built from that.
"I am glad I got the chance to build our relationship and have a relationship with a man and a person like that, first and foremost. Playing under a coach like that who cares about his players more than anything. It was a blessing to have that relationship and contain that relationship."
Porter's career began with unfortunate circumstances after the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted the USC prospect in 2019. And by the time the Rockets landed him in a trade two years later, Porter admitted he was in a dark place.
But Houston became a place where Porter found happiness, and he credited no one more than Silas.
Silas became a confidant to Porter. There were times their conversations had nothing to do with basketball. Porter most appreciated having a coach who cared about his well-being as a person more than the X's and O's on the basketball court.
"He helped me to be grounded and helped me be comfortable with being uncomfortable," Porter said. "He is very mellow, so he taught me how to maneuver through this whole process. He is a dope person."
The Rockets have seven to eight candidates who could replace Silas as head coach.
Owner Tilman Fertitta and general manager Rafael Stone may make a hire who could not only bring the Rockets back to relevance. But perhaps, be the first coach to help Houston capture its first Larry O'Brien Trophy since Rudy Tomjanovich in 1995.
It may not take the next coach three seasons to reach 59 wins. But Silas will leave behind a daunting feat for the next coach to fill when it comes to mentoring and developing personal relationships with Houston's young corps.
The players' adoration for Silas made leaving Washington a somber day despite closing a difficult season with a 114-109 victory over the Wizards.
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