HOUSTON — As the news made its way around the media workroom that Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas would return to the bench on Tuesday night, no one knew how to react.
He had been away from the team for two days since it was announced his father, NBA legend Paul Silas, had passed away. It is hard to tell how an individual grieves, especially one as close to his father as Silas was. He made his mark in the NBA coaching ranks by working alongside his father for three organizations during the elder Silas’ time as a head coach.
“It’s hard; it’s really hard. It took a lot to come for this (media availability), this part,” Silas said during his pregame press conference. The basketball part is like riding a bike. This part is tough.”
After his media session, Silas took a long sigh but walked out with his signature smile he has flashed since being introduced as the Rockets’ head coach in 2020. It may have been his way of coping and dealing with losing one of his closest friends.
Once Tuesday’s game began against the Phoenix Suns, it was back to business as usual for Silas. He helped orchestrate a plan for his young team to keep point guard Chris Paul from taking control of the game in the absence of Devin Booker. Houston beat Phoenix, 111-97, to secure its fifth straight home win.
“I kind of didn’t want the game to end,” said Rockets head coach Stephen Silas after Houston defeated the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Silas lost his father, NBA great Paul Silas on Sunday. “Now it’s like real life starts up again.” #LightTheFuse #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/lC6QSHbaoi
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) December 14, 2022
As the game concluded, Silas was met by Suns head coach Monty Williams at midcourt. Most coaches shake hands, share a couple of words with each other and move on.
Williams knew this situation, however, would require more, and he did the same thing for Silas that other coaches and players did for him. Williams had taken a break in 2016 after his wife died in a tragic car accident.
The two coaches embraced one another, and it was clear Williams could feel the pain and hurt that ran through Silas’ body.
Silas made his way off the court as the customary streamers came down from the Toyota Center rafters after the Rockets won the game, and he knew it was time to face reality. He started his postgame press conference in the same fashion as he had earlier, with a long sigh.
“I kind of didn’t want the game to end,” Silas said with a slight smile. “Now it is like real life starts up again.”
