Former Rockets Head Coach Floated as Potential Celtics’ Assistant

The 2022-23 NBA season has seen the Boston Celtics coaching staff become depleted.

Joe Mazzulla was elevated to the head coaching role, Damon Stoudamire took the head coaching gig at Georgia Tech, and Will Hardy left to become the head coach of the Utah Jazz. None of those coaching vacancies were replaced during the season.

However, the upcoming off-season will likely be a time for Brad Stevens and Mazzulla to retool Boston’s coaching staff. According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, former Houston Rockets head coach Stephen Silas has been spotted at the Celtic’s April 25 practice – sparking rumors that he could join the staff as an assistant head coach.

“Stephen Silas, in Boston today taking in Celtics practice, would be a no-brainer to join Joe Mazzulla’s staff next season. Seasoned assistant, former head coach, deeply respected league-wide for his basketball mind. And the Silas name, well, familiar in Boston,” Mannix Tweeted.

Silas spent three years with the Rockets before leaving his post after they failed to make the playoffs this year, amassing a 59-177 record while developing a plethora of talent on the rebuilding Western Conference team.

Ime Udoka Takes Over From Stephen Silas

On April 24, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Ime Udoka had been hired as the new head coach for the Houston Rockets, just a few months after officially departing the Celtics.

Udoka was suspended by the Celtics before the current season began due to a breach of organizational policy before terminating his contract during the All-Star break, where they also made Mazzulla’s role as head coach permanent.

In his maiden season with the Celtics, Udoka presided over a 51-31 regular-season record and a 14-10 playoff run while also galvanizing Boston’s defense and leading them to their first conference finals of the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era, which they ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors. 

Derrick White Discusses Ime Udoka’s New Job

During an April 25 press conference, Celtics guard Derrick White was asked about his former head coach’s new job, noting that he’s happy for him. 

“I’m happy for him. I definitely wish him the best,” Derrick White said. “I mean, obviously I was with him in San Antonio [where] I started my career so I saw him there but then [I got to see] a different light of him as a head coach. He’s definitely a good basketball mind and he’s going to do a good job.”