HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Stephen Silas has been named the 14th head coach in Rockets history, the team announced late Friday afternoon.
ESPN was the first to report Wednesday that Silas, 47, would replace Mike D'Antoni, who said he would not return to the team after his contract expired following a second round playoff exit against the Los Angeles Lakers.
"This is an opportunity that was well-earned and long overdue for Coach Silas and we're thrilled to have him as head coach," Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said in a statement. "Stephen is a basketball lifer who is highly regarded around the league. Our basketball operations leaders Rafael Stone and Eli Witus, along with Tad Brown and Patrick Fertitta, conducted an extensive search of many worthy candidates, but in the end we knew Stephen was the right person for the job. I know Stephen cannot wait to get to work and I hope Rockets fans are as excited as I am for the upcoming season."
Welcome to Houston, Coach Silas! pic.twitter.com/oqNuPUXMmB
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 30, 2020
The son of former NBA All Star Paul Silas, who himself coached four teams over 12 seasons, spent the last two seasons as an assistant under Rick Carlisle with the Dallas Mavericks. He also served as an assistant with the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets and Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Orleans Hornets.
"The success Coach Silas had with Dallas last season reinforced the notion that he is more than ready to lead his own team," Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone said. "The strengths of our core players are a great fit for Coach Silas' system and ideology and I'm looking forward to working with him to find ways we can continue to improve our roster."
With Silas in charge the Mavs offense jumped from 20th in offensive efficiency at 108.7 points per 100 possessions during the 2018-19 season to number one at 115.9, which is the best in NBA history.
"I'd like to thank Mr. Fertitta and Rafael for this tremendous opportunity as well as all of the mentors I've had over the years, especially my dad, Paul," Silas said. "Basketball has been a huge part of my life since the day I was born and this is the moment I've strived for. I've been fortunate to have coached some great players over the course of my career and am excited to work with this incredibly talented team as we build upon the success they have established."
