Rockets coach Stephen Silas reflects on coaching rookie Steph Curry

Traditionally, Steph Curry hasn’t made too many associates in Houston. The Warriors star and two-time MVP is 4-0 towards the Rockets within the NBA playoffs, together with a pair of dramatic sequence wins in 2018 and 2019.

However the animosity has died down in latest months after James Harden’s exit, which took Houston out of fast playoff competition and put the Rockets on a distinct timeline than Golden State — which is led by a trio of 30-somethings (Curry, Draymond Inexperienced, and Klay Thompson).

It additionally helps that Curry has a powerful relationship with Stephen Silas, who took over as Houston’s head coach earlier than the 2020-21 season. Silas was a Golden State assistant when Curry entered the league, they usually made a fast bond as Silas labored to assist develop the No. 7 total decide from the 2009 NBA draft. In his private documentary, which debuted Friday, right here’s what Silas stated about his time with Curry as a rookie:

He was from Charlotte, and I had spent lots of time in Charlotte. My dad coached his dad. We had lots of connections, lots of people we knew in widespread.

So each single day, we have been within the fitness center, engaged on no matter. He could be at my home. The 2-ball dribbling stuff, we began that collectively, and he was bouncing it off his foot. Now I giggle, when individuals are coming to the fitness center early to look at him do his two-ball dribbling.

Equally, when Golden State final visited Houston in Could, Curry stated postgame that he was rooting for the Silas-led Rockets to succeed.

Amongst his comments:

Coach Silas is all the time good in my e-book. We watched a lot movie my rookie yr. He helped me perceive what it meant to be a professional and see the sport as a degree guard, and cope with a number of the uncertainty that was going across the Warriors again then in ’09. He’s such , stable dude; he shoots it to you straight, very approachable. He made me comfy asking questions and studying. He pushed me, too.

Issues type of clicked midway by way of my rookie yr. A number of that was due to the fixed work that we put in behind the scenes. I do know he’s obtained lots of expertise since then, however he hasn’t modified when it comes to his persona, and that can, hopefully, get them to a spot they [the Rockets] can flip the tide.

I informed him after the sport I used to be excited that he’s in that head seat. It’s been a very long time coming. That story goes to be superior to look at unfold. I’m rooting for him.

Stephen Curry shares a second with Stephen Silas, John Wall and Kevin Porter Jr pic.twitter.com/UHuCr0Rvbd

— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) May 2, 2021

“To see the place he’s come from to the place he’s now, MVPs and main the group… it’s onerous to see whenever you’re the coach of the opposing group, however he’s only a nice individual and a terrific participant,” Silas stated in May.

Now, within the offseason-compiled documentary, Silas can supply extra perspective and with out the fast backdrop of defeat.

“They knew he may shoot, however they thought he was sluggish and small,” Silas stated of his early-career stint with Curry. “However he obtained his physique collectively, he obtained his thoughts proper, and he was only a pleasure to teach.”