Rockets' Rafael Stone Praises Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday: 'We Were Lucky!'

"Both of those guys are guys that we’ve liked for a long time," Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said of Jeff Green and Aaron Holiday. "We were lucky that they were free agents at a time when we could play in free agency."

Jeremy Brener | Dec 24, 2023

Rockets' Rafael Stone Praises Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday: 'We Were Lucky!' /

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Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have had several players step up to the plate so far this season.

The Rockets currently sit at 15-12 going into Christmas thanks to a full team effort, but two players who don't always receive the praise they deserve are Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green.

However, Rafael Stone, the man responsible for signing them in free agency this offseason, continues to sing their praises.

Aaron Holiday Jeff Green Norman Powell Clippers — Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

"Both of those guys are guys that we’ve liked for a long time," Stone said via Kelly Iko of The Athletic. "We were lucky that they were free agents at a time when we could play in free agency. And so yeah, they’ve done well and I’m happy for that. Jeff’s a super veteran player, but Aaron’s been around for a while, too. So they both have come in and done exactly what we thought they would do. And we thought that with our current mix, they fit well. And it’s been nice that through a quarter season that’s been the way it’s played out."

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Green and Holiday are veteran leaders in a bench unit that ranks 25th in scoring, but has been crucial on the defensive end. While the numbers don't pop off the page, their veteran presence helps the Rockets get organized in the second unit to commit fewer turnovers. The Rockets commit the fifth-fewest turnovers in the NBA, with just 13.1. Only the Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers commit fewer turnovers than that of the Rockets.

Green, Holiday and the Rockets are back in action on Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT inside Toyota Center.

Published Dec 24, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.