Stone personally helped Uduka in draft and trade

Recently, Rockets general manager Raphael Stone said in an interview program that Uduka has helped him a lot in the draft and trading in the past two years, and the two have worked very happily.

Stone took over as general manager of the Rockets in October 2020, and has selected many first-round picks through the draft in the past four years. Among them, Garuba and Christopher have faded out of the league, and Taytai Washington drifts many teams, basically no ball to play; Jaylen Green, who has the highest pick, was also traded to the Suns; Whitmore, the No. 20 pick, was also traded to the Wizards.

Uduka took over as the head coach of the Rockets in April 2023. Then, the Rockets selected Amen Thompson and Shepard in turn in the draft; and then traded players such as Adams, Durant, Anthony Smith, Capela, and Okogie, which greatly improved the team's strength, which is inseparable from Uduka's advice and help. Among the rookies selected by Stone, Shin Kyung, Jabbarry Smith Jr. and Ethan are excellent.

Stone is a law-based student and is a strong point in contracts, but she is indeed an outsider in drafts and trading. Uduka helps Stone reduces mistakes and gradually expands her network in the league to gain a foothold.