Doc Rivers, Steve Kerr, other coaches call to encourage Stephen Silas

Doc Rivers, Steve Kerr, other coaches call to encourage Stephen Silas

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After going viral for his visibly disturbed reaction to Sunday’s defeat, Rockets coach Stephen Silas said on Monday that he quickly received several encouraging calls from members of the NBA coach fraternity. Houston came in on Monday with 20 consecutive defeats, one of the 10 worst consecutive losses in league history.

Those looking for Silas included personal mentors and coaches with championship experience, such as Doc Rivers with the Philadelphia 76ers and Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors.

In pre-game comments before Monday night’s game against Toronto, Silas explained what the day before was like for him:

What has been really cool for the past 24 hours is that I heard from Doc Rivers telling me about his streak of 18 consecutive losses in one year, and after winning the championship the following year. I heard from Don Nelson, who said he had those moments and those moments, and those long streak of defeats he went through. And he is the most winning coach in NBA history.

I got calls from Steve Kerr, Luke Walton, all these guys. Not to mention all of my assistant coaches and mentors. Doug Collins. I don’t really know Doug Collins very well. He started his career at 3-13 and fought. And he is Doug Collins, one of the best coaches in NBA history.

Having the NBA community kind of supported, be it in my game after the press conference or the fact that we are going through all this turmoil and other things really makes me proud to be part of the NBA. It is very gratifying to have this type of person in my life to help me and to lift me up.

Silas has known some of these coaches since his childhood, considering that his father, Paul Silas, was a longtime NBA coach.

When Silas took over from Houston in October 2020, the franchise had the recent MVPs James Harden and Russel Westbrook as centerpieces. Both were also under contract for several years.

However, each found a way to force his way out of the city, and the franchise has since been pushed into a cycle of reconstruction – which Silas didn’t know would come (at least not anytime soon) when he took office. A serious injury to Christian Wood’s ankle, which has easily been the biggest highlight for the Rockets this season, also didn’t help. It is clearly too much for a young coach for the first time in the NBA.

But over time, better health and additions to the list via trade, free agency and / or recruitment, the Rockets remain confident that Silas will be able to lead a turnaround. Others in the NBA as well.

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