Stephen Silas on Training Camp and Practice Preparation (EP427)

The Basketball Podcast

Chris Oliver

Sports, Basketball

4.3 • 525 Ratings

🗓️ 3 June 2026

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

USA Basketball and former NBA head coach Stephen Silas, where he discussed his experiences coaching in short international qualifying windows for FIBA competitions. Silas shared insights about preparing teams with limited time, explaining that USA Basketball teams typically have only six practices before playing two games against other national teams in challenging international venues.

Silas detailed his approach to quickly building team culture through group activities, film sessions, and quiz competitions while emphasizing the importance of defense first and adapting to FIBA rules that differ significantly from NBA play. Silas also discussed his role clarity strategies with players, the challenges, and how these international experiences have helped him develop as a coach.

Stephen Silas is an accomplished NBA coach with more than two decades of experience across the league, most notably serving as head coach of the Houston Rockets from 2020 to 2023. He has also held coaching roles with the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Dallas Mavericks.

Most recently, Silas has coached with USA Basketball, serving as head coach for the U.S. Men’s AmeriCup Qualifying Team and leading squads in FIBA competition windows beginning in 2024. Under Silas, USA Basketball posted a 4–0 record in the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers, and he later guided Team USA to a bronze medal finish at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Awesome to welcome USA Basketball head coach Stephen Silas to the basketball podcast.
0:04.6	Coach Silas is an accomplished NBA coach with more than two decades of experience across the league,
0:09.5	most notably serving as head coach of the Houston Rockets from 2020 to 2023. He also has held
0:15.0	coaching roles with the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors,
0:20.4	and Dallas Mavericks.
0:21.7	Most recently, Silas has coach with USA Basketball, serving as a head coach for the U.S.
0:26.1	Men's Ameri Qualifying Cup team, leading squads in FIFA competition windows beginning in 2024.
0:32.4	Under Silas, USA Basketball posted a 4-0 record in the 2025 Fibba America Cup qualifiers, and he later
0:39.0	guided Team USA to a bronze medal finish at the 2025 Fiba America Cup. Silas is widely respected
0:45.1	for his offensive innovation and player development work, including his role as offensive
0:48.7	coordinator for the 2019-20 Dallas Mavericks, whose group posted one of the most efficient
0:53.5	offenses in NBA history at the time.
0:56.1	In addition to his NBA experience, Salas has contributed to global growth of basketball through NBA basketball without borders.
1:02.4	Hey coach, brief interruption from your podcast to hear from one of our top supporters, Hoopsolitics.
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	...

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