Stephen Silas has a multitude of motivations for taking on the role of coach for USA Basketball during the qualifying segment of the FIBA AmeriCup tournament.
One of those inspirations is his father, Paul Silas, who passed away two years ago. Despite an extensive career as an NBA coach, he never had the opportunity to serve on the national team. Thus, when USA Basketball reached out to Silas about this chance, which includes games on Friday and Monday in Washington, followed by two additional qualifying games in February potentially featuring a different roster, he eagerly accepted the position.
“It’s incredible to be coaching Team USA,” Stephen Silas expressed. “On one hand, it’s my lifelong dream, and on the other hand, my father never had the chance to be part of Team USA. He played in the NBA for 16 years and coached for 30, but sadly, he is no longer with us. I believe he would be extremely proud of me taking this role.”
The AmeriCup is the championship event for the FIBA Americas region, and currently, the United States is striving to qualify for the tournament scheduled for next year in Nicaragua. The Americans will match up against Puerto Rico this Friday and the Bahamas on Monday, before traveling to compete against the same teams again on February 20 and 23. Silas is expected to return for these games, but it remains uncertain how many players from the current roster will remain for the next round of qualifiers.
The qualifying process consists of four groups, each featuring four teams, out of which three teams from each group will advance to Nicaragua. Presently, the U.S., Puerto Rico, Bahamas, and Cuba each hold a record of 1-1 in the initial phase of qualifying.
Silas is thrilled to be back on the sidelines. His previous stint as coach for the Houston Rockets involved a rebuilding phase that resulted in a challenging record of 59-177 over three seasons. Additionally, he served as an assistant in Detroit during a difficult season for the Pistons, who saw a 28-game losing streak leading to a dismal 14-68 overall record.
“You learn a lot about your resilience,” Silas said. “I’ve discovered how much I love basketball during the tough times I’ve experienced in the NBA over the past four years. Despite the challenges, my passion for coaching, witnessing player development, and my love for the game remain strong. I’m eager to embrace my next coaching opportunity.”
On Silas’ coaching staff are notable names such as Patrick Ewing and Keith Smart. Silas shares a long-standing professional relationship with Ewing, a Hall of Famer who has won two Olympic gold medals for Team USA. The two previously collaborated as assistant coaches in Charlotte. When Silas accepted the USA coaching position, Ewing was his first choice to join him. With Ewing’s rich basketball background, having been coached by the likes of Pat Riley and John Thompson, Silas valued his immense knowledge of the game.
Interestingly, Silas added Ewing to the staff without initially informing USA men’s national team director Sean Ford, later reaching out to seek Ford’s approval, which was readily granted.
Joining the coaching staff is Keith Smart, another experienced former NBA head coach and a player who won an NCAA title at Indiana.
The roster for the United States features 12 players, all of whom have NBA experience, some with substantial playing time.
Among them, Robert Covington has participated in 614 games, Tony Snell in 601, Frank Kaminsky in 413, and Chasson Randle in 119 games. Other players include Henry Ellenson, Paul Watson, Jahmi’us Ramsey, Nate Hinton, Malik Williams, Dusty Hannahs, Javonte Smart, and David Stockton, contributing to a total of 1,988 NBA games played and 15,462 points scored within the league.