While veteran NBA coach and current commentator Jeff Van Gundy was reportedly a finalist for the head coaching vacancy with the Houston Rockets in October, the job ultimately went to Stephen Silas. But that doesn’t mean that there are any hard feelings on Van Gundy’s end.
In a recent appearance on ESPN’s Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin show, Van Gundy praised the work that Silas has done in handling the uncertain situation of James Harden’s offseason trade request and his delayed arrival to training camp for the 2020-21 season. Here’s what JVG said:
I think he’s doing such a great job, because he’s referring many of the Harden questions back to Harden himself. Because Harden, really, is the only one that can answer about his level of commitment, and about why he did what he did. I think Stephen has done a great, great job.
I’m fortunate, I know the Silas family. My first NBA job when I was 27 [years old], as an assistant for the Knicks, one of the other assistant coaches was Paul Silas, his dad. He took me under his wing and taught me a lot about the NBA. And so I’ve known Stephen since I think he was a high school freshman. He’s always bene a great dude. He’s top notch. If you don’t get along with Stephen Silas, you’re the jerk. He has put in, like, 20 years of being an assistant coach, and he’s got a really good team, and he really knows what he’s doing.
I’m very impressed with not only how he’s dealt with the Harden dilemma. Coming into it, it was a Westbrook dilemma, as well. I think they’ve come out of it and and done as good a job as they can. Unfortunately, this great, great player doesn’t want to be a part of their team anymore. And yet, I think they’re doing the smart thing and not just getting rid of him, but trying to find a situation for themselves that they can still be a really good team. So Stephen’s going to do an excellent job, and has done an excellent job. I love how he’s started deflecting the questions back to Harden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVvjSlQM93E
Despite the uncertainty, Van Gundy predicts that Houston will be a “top four seed” in the Western Conference, if they keep Harden.
“I think, actually, that Houston is going to win and win big, if Harden stays,” said Van Gundy, who still lives in Houston after having coached the Rockets from 2003-04 through 2006-07. “I think they’ll be a top four seed. But I think it’s going to be a hard year, because everybody is going to dance around the elephant in the room, which is that, ‘Our best player doesn’t want to be here.’ When is the other shoe going to drop?”
Based on Harden’s reported wish for a trade, Van Gundy thinks it’s only a matter of time until a deal involving the All-Star guard happens.
“I think Stephen Silas is handling it just like I think any coach would try,” Van Gundy said. “Keep the team on track, and prepare as if this is going to be your team going forward. But even he knows, it’s just a matter of time until James Harden is no longer there.”
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