3 reasons why Rockets’ Rafael Stone isn’t your typical rookie GM

Although Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone is in his first season as an executive, Stone is far from your normal rookie GM, for a number of reasons.

Rafael Stone was promoted to General Manager of the Houston Rockets after the sudden resignation of longtime General Manager Daryl Morey on October 15, 2020. It was a stunning move at the time, and many thought the Rockets were in deep trouble.

The season was less than two months away, and rumors were swirling about Russell Westbrook and James Harden wanting out of Houston. Many people outside of the NBA hadn’t heard of Stone, even though he had been with the Rockets for a decade and a half.

The people inside and outside the NBA would soon find out that Stone is a patient, calculating, and strategic NBA executive. Although this may be Stone’s first year as the GM of the Houston Rockets, Stone is not your typical “rookie” GM, upon deeper analysis.

Let’s take a look at why Stone is far more seasoned than the average rookie GM.

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