Rockets GM Rafael Stone Defends Team's Culture After Months Of Criticism

After months of criticism, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone defends the team's culture.

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said the franchise isn't wasting time to begin their search for a new head coach. And following the departure of coach Stephen Silas Monday afternoon, Stone says Houston is "a very attractive situation."

Improving a franchise that has won 59 games over the previous three seasons will be the most significant objective for the new head coach. But enhancing Houston's culture is another underlying task. However, Stone pushed back on the skeptics who have criticized the Rockets' culture over the past several months.

"We have a really good culture," Stone said. "We have not managed to turn that culture into wins at this point in time, but the 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"

Stone described critics as "lazy" when the Rockets' culture came into question. The Rockets' culture became a topic of discussion after former point guard John Wall described his two-year stint with the organization as "trash" in January.

Stone understands there will be a difficult task for the next coach to lead the Rockets back to relevance. But repairing Houston's inadequate culture will not be a primary objective.

"I am willing to fight with anyone who will say that our culture, on this team, this year, was challenged," Stone said. "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."

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