Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said Tuesday that he understands and respects the decision by Daryl Morey to exit the organization after 14 years, including the last 13 as GM.
While the Rockets didn’t win an NBA title in that span, they were a clear success story by almost any measure. They ranked No. 2 in the league in overall wins, and they currently have the NBA’s longest streak at eight consecutive playoff berths. They never had a losing season.
As such, there’s clear mutual respect between the veteran GM and Houston’s relatively new owner. When asked by CNBC’s Power Lunch about Morey’s impending departure, here’s what Fertitta said:
Daryl came back from the bubble… It’s kind of funny, because I made a statement [about him staying] on CNBC. And then, the next day, they get back. … Daryl has always had an out in his contract. This was the year his last kid graduated from high school, where we could kind of do what he wanted to do. He always told me he wanted to go up East.
That’s why he’s had a guy like [new GM] Rafael Stone that’s been his right hand, that’s always worked with us. You know, I understand. Daryl has been here 15 years, and he always told me this, when I bought the team. He liked the opportunity to hopefully go back up East one day. That’s where he’s from, and he wants his children to experience that up there. I get it, and I understand it.
Tilman Fertitta on Daryl Morey's #Rockets departure:
"Daryl has always had an out in his contract. This was the year that his last kid graduated from high school. He always told me he wanted to go back East. … I get it, and I understand it."
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 20, 2020
Morey is staying on with the Rockets through Nov. 1 in a short-term advisory role, as the team wraps up its search for a new head coach. Fertitta again suggested that Morey could be a resource beyond that period, even if he eventually works for an Eastern Conference team.
“Daryl is still here helping us with our coaching search,” Fertitta said. “Usually in sports, when you’re gone, you’re gone. Daryl isn’t gone,”
“Daryl will always be there for me,” Houston’s owner concluded. “I appreciate everything Daryl has done for this franchise, and what he’s done for me as a new owner over the last three years.”
