Shams and Woj Race to Announce Stephen Silas Firing Before Rockets' Final Game Ends
The Houston Rockets won their final game of the season, 114-109, over the Washington Wizards. Before the result was final, Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski both tweeted that coach Stephen Silas was out. Obviously, this was not breaking news to the news breakers as Charania had a full article - co-written by Kelly Iko and Sam Amick - in The Athletic ready to drop along with the tweet.
Stephen Silas will be out as Houston Rockets head coach, as the franchise embarks on search for a hire to take the next step, league sources say.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 9, 2023
Inside Silas' tenure and impending divorce with the Rockets — with @KellyIko and @sam_amick at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/d8PWCtujT8
The Houston Rockets are declining to pick up the fourth-year option on coach Stephen Silas’ contract, ending his three-year run leading the franchise’s rebuild, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aJqxY91d31
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 9, 2023
Presumably - hopefully! - Silas was also privy to this information ahead of the game so he wasn't blindsided. There was a time when all the coaching changes would leak out slowly the day after the season ended as teams had exit interviews with players and coaches. Now that can't wait because retweets are at stake.
Silas won just 22 games this year which was in the team's best interest. He'll finish with a record of 59-177 over three seasons. There will be no Brett Brown-esque opportunity for him to coach the team when they're actually trying to win.