Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams knows quite a bit about dealing with heartbreak and personal adversity, given the tragic loss of his wife in a car accident in 2016.
On Tuesday, his counterpart with the Rockets, Stephen Silas, was coaching his first game since the loss of his father, renowned NBA player and coach Paul Silas. When the game went final, even with his Suns losing to the underdog Rockets by a convincing margin, Williams had more meaningful things than basketball on his mind.
Williams immediately embraced Silas in the postgame handshake line and spoke with him for nearly a full minute. When asked about the exchange, Silas made it clear that he deeply appreciated it.
Everybody knows he’s one of the best people in the world. It means a lot. He’s been through so much, and has so many little tidbits and so many experiences that he draws from. He has a great way of communicating, and tonight his way of communicating was through a hug, which I needed.
I love him for that. He’s a good man.
From @BigSargeSportz, here’s #Rockets coach Stephen Silas on what the postgame hug and heartfelt words by Suns coach Monty Williams meant to him: pic.twitter.com/FogmkWCPeW
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) December 14, 2022
As for basketball, Silas and the resurgent Rockets (9-18) have won five straight home games at Toyota Center, along with three of their last four games and six of 10. But Silas is clearly dealing with more important issues at the moment, and perhaps the gesture from Williams is exactly what he needed.
Moments after his team’s loss went final, Suns coach Monty Williams embraced Stephen Silas and shared what appeared to be a very deep message. Stephen, of course, was coaching his first game since the death of his father, Paul Silas.
All class. pic.twitter.com/Hy9Ul7csIY
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 14, 2022
