Matt Bullard was a fan favorite when he played for the Houston Rockets in 1990-94 and 1996-2001. The forward wasn’t exactly All-Star material, but he always gave his all on the court and was loyal to the team. The highlight of his NBA career was participation in the 1993-94 title-winning time, alongside Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Bullard further built his rapport with Rockets fans when he took the role of color commentator for AT&T SportsNet Southwest. He worked alongside former teammate Drexler, while Bill Worrell served as the leading broadcaster. Many fans were disappointed that the channel was not returning him. Bullard admitted that this was not his decision, and it was disappointing to learn that his loyalty to the channel had not been rewarded.
With that kind of record, some have wondered if the appointment is merely a sop to the fans. He was excited to be appointed and said:
“This thing that I’ve been doing with the Rockets is just like a dream for me. I’m so excited to now be in the front office and trying to rebuild a championship-caliber team.” Will Bullard bring anything of substance to the front office, or is this just an exercise in window dressing?
What Matt Bullard Can Bring To The Rockets
Those who denigrate Bullard’s potential contribution probably have not paid close attention to his broadcast presence. Matt is an innovative thinker comfortable with the contemporary game and its analytical turn.
The former commentator has been outspoken in his opposition to old-fashioned approaches to basketball. For example, when asked about Draymond Green’s opposition to the use of analytics in basketball, Matt did not mince words: “what Draymond is telling you is that he doesn’t embrace change as much as a guy like me does.
He wants to keep it the way it was and don’t add all these unique stats to it. So, he is just being resistant to the change that’s happening in the NBA.”
Still, he is also an old-school player with a champion’s work ethic. According to ClutchBet, he leads the list of best Iowan players in the NBA of all time. Check it out https://clutchbuzz.clutchbet.com/nba/best-nba-players-from-iowa/
That puts the executive in a unique position to bridge the game’s glorious past and promising future. He says his role is to “be a translator, trying to help the basketball guys to understand the analytics are telling us. Also, trying to figure out what questions need to be answered from the basketball guys.”
He certainly isn’t going to be calling the shots for the Rockets. Instead, Matt is working directly under General Manager Rafael Stone. Still, by all accounts, Matt has Stone’s ear, and his input on the Rocket’s moves so far has been valued and influential.
Why is Matt on Stone’s Ear?
There is a reason for that. Like Bullard, Stone has been affiliated with the Rockets for many years, coming into the team as general counsel in 2005 and working his way up.
So, Stone understands and values the importance of the NBA champion executive to the franchise. In addition, matt was there last time Houston won a title and understands what it takes from the inside.
Final Thoughts
In general, the Rockets brass seems to appreciate former players’ contributions, and several others are in the front office. Other notable former pro hires include former Nuggets big man Chuck Hayes and journeyman forward Ed Pinckney.
The Rockets’ favorite made his mark by contributing to the team’s NBA draft picks. Bullard’s next test was the free agency period, which began in August.
While the selection of Jabari Smith and Teri Eason in the draft was undoubtedly a team effort, they are the sort of sophisticated players with impressive, advanced stats that Bullard prefers. He is an integral part of Houston’s vision for the future.
