Rockets Coach Stephen Silas On Life Without Eric Gordon: 'I'm Going To Miss Him A Lot'
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HOUSTON — Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas doesn't like to harp on the team's youth. But coming out of the All-Star break, Silas has accepted that his team will be the youngest in the league.
The average age of Houston's potential starting lineup against the Golden State Warriors Friday night could be younger than the University of Houston Men's basketball team — the No. 1 ranked program in the nation.
Silas understands the final 24 games will present a daunting challenge without a reliable veteran in the locker room. And he will no longer have the services of Eric Gordon as a respectable voice.
"I'm going to miss him a lot, and he knows that," Silas said. "We are going to miss him on and off the court. I am happy that he has an opportunity to be with a playoff team. Get to the Finals. And possibly win the whole thing. He was nothing but a pro while he was here."
The Rockets traded Gordon to the Los Angeles Clippers in a multi-team deal that included the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 9.
The trade ended Gordon's seven-year tenure with the Rockets, where he became a prominent part of the franchise.
He was a crucial piece to the Rockets' success during his first four years. But Gordon's role in Houston became more influential as the veteran leader for a rebuilding team.
Silas described Gordon's departure as "part of the business" while stating he misses the one-on-one daily conversations with the 34-year-old sharpshooter.
General manager Rafael Stone hoped to replenish Gordon's veteran leadership with Danny Green and Justin Holiday. But four days after their acquisition during the trade deadline, the Rockets reached a buyout agreement with Green and Holiday.
Frank Kaminsky, K.J. Martin and Jae'Sean Tate are the elder statesmen within Silas' rotation. Boban Marjanovic, 34, is the only player on the Rockets' roster over 30 years old.
Kaminsky took it upon himself during Thursday's practice to help Silas emphasize his goals and expectations entering the final quarter of the 2022-23 campaign.
"We really do not have many veterans now," Silas said. "We had a good discussion today on what kind of team we are going to be moving forward. But Tate and K.J. have been here just as long as they know me and what I want. They can definitely help in the locker room."
Gordon, who joined the Rockets in July 2016, averaged 15.7 points on 36 percent shooting from behind the arc during his time in Houston. He won NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors during his first season in 2017.
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