‘More than basketball’: Stephen Silas, Rockets reflect on MLK Day
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As one of a small number of Black head coaches in the NBA, Stephen Silas is in a relatively rare position with the Houston Rockets. He also carries some unique perspective, since his father, Paul Silas, was an NBA player and a head coach in a different generation. Because of that connection, the younger Silas has been around the NBA his entire life.
Understandably, upon Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) in the United States, Silas felt compelled to share some of his personal stories from that journey with the team.
“I try to use every opportunity to shine a light on things going on in the world,” Silas told reporters before Monday night’s game in Chicago. “Martin Luther King Day is a special day to me, and to the whole country. I just tried to point out the fact that he was so selfless.”
Silas said he told the team about his father, who wasn’t able to go into certain restaurants and hotels — even as an NBA player.
“I told them about my dad who came into the NBA in 1964. There were restaurants and hotels my father wasn’t able to go into at all, or not allowed to go into the front door. It’s really not that far away. So there’s a lot that has been improved, but we still have a long way to go.”
Stephen Silas shared some of what he discussed with his players as it relates to Martin Luther King Day: “I told them about my dad who came into the NBA in 1964.There were restaurants & hotels my father wasn’t..allowed to go into at all or not allowed to go into the front door..” pic.twitter.com/mCfobmaArh
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) January 19, 2021
Silas said he recognizes his unique role as a Black head coach, particularly in a league where Black players comprise the majority of NBA rosters but are not similarly represented in leadership positions.
“I am in a unique position to be a young African-American coach, and I’m blessed to have an owner [Tilman Fertitta] and a GM [Rafael Stone] who believe in me to be in this position,” Silas said on Monday. “I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity I have to teach, to listen, and really make it about more than basketball.”
See below for complete video of Silas’ remarks, along with social media tributes posted by other members of the team.
