Rafael Stone sees Rockets as attractive destination, blasts ‘culture’ critics

Criticisms of the 2022-23 Houston Rockets extended well beyond recently ousted head coach Stephen Silas, with several media members repeatedly calling the team’s culture into question.

So, with a lead coaching vacancy that needs to be filled, could that limit Houston’s potential appeal to the market? As general manager Rafael Stone sees it, the answer is absolutely not.

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“I think this is a very attractive situation,” Stone said at Monday’s press conference on the coaching change. “Based on my phone ringing today, I think a lot of other people do, too.”

Later in the session, Stone put many of the team’s critics on blast as being “lazy” and using outdated perceptions. “The way those people did things are being conflated with us now, even though the only commonality is it’s the Houston Rockets,” Stone told reporters.

Among Stone’s additional comments:

A couple of the people are out of their mind. …

We have a really good culture. We have not managed to turn that culture into wins at this point in time, but culture I would put our team up there with anyone in the NBA. We work really hard. People are very supportive of each other, they get along very well.

I am willing to fight with anyone who will say that our culture, on this team, this year, was challenged. It’s been if not the best team I’ve ever been around, certainly one of the top two or three, and I’ve been in the NBA since 2005.

Complete video of Stone’s comments can be viewed below.

As for the attractiveness of the job, time will tell as the Rockets go through the coaching search. Initial reports are that Houston’s list of candidates includes several big names with significant head coaching experience such as Nick Nurse, Ime Udoka, Kenny Atkinson, Scott Brooks, and Frank Vogel. There is no timetable for a hire, but Stone said Monday that Houston could move quickly, if needed.

Rockets GM Rafael Stone addresses some of the negative reports that have come out in recent years regarding the #Rockets culture @SportsTalk790 pic.twitter.com/114hBrT37Y

— Chris Gordy (@ChrisGordy) April 10, 2023