Rockets coach Ime Udoka agreed to a lucrative multi-year extension on Thursday that will keep him in Houston for the foreseeable future, team sources confirmed to The Athletic.
Despite losing in the first round to the Golden State Warriors last month, ownership has never wavered in their belief in Udoka’s abilities, opting to make the move now to secure his long-term future. Earlier this month, Udoka was the subject of interest from the New York Knicks for their vacant head coaching position, one that the Rockets vehemently shut down. Besides Udoka, a number of his assistants attracted interest around the league for various positions, but Houston is expected to head into the 2025-26 season with the same staff, team sources say.
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Udoka was hired by the Rockets in 2023 after being suspended by the Boston Celtics for the 2022-23 season for violating team policies, which was a result of an intimate relationship with a female member of the organization. Udoka led the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals in his first season in Boston.
Since arriving in Houston, Udoka has rapidly reshaped the Rockets’ culture and internal expectations, transforming them from a lowly franchise that had won just 22 games to a team with consecutive winning seasons. Udoka has preached discipline, accountability and respect, demanding his players adhere to a team concept, and has seen a unified response almost immediately.
His tenure has also been a key component in the alignment between ownership, the front office and coaching staff in building what appears to be a sustainable project over the next few seasons, both publicly and privately. Houston has been among the league’s top defenses since Udoka took over, has developed a number of talented young players and employs key veterans that have aided in the professionalism and productivity of the group as a whole.
Under Udoka’s watch, ascending players Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson have earned league honors (All-Star selection and All-Defense, respectively), and experienced players have also improved their game; Dillon Brooks had the best shooting season of his career. Udoka’s equal-opportunity offense has been the most important aspect of the team’s collective growth, keeping a flat hierarchy while remaining confident and aggressive.
This offseason, Udoka has been an integral figure in roster planning, from draft workouts and free-agency planning to potential trade scenarios. There is an internal belief that Houston’s trajectory will continue to rise as the roster spends more time under the 57-year-old, and the Rockets, who finished as the No. 2 seed in the West, plan to remain among the league’s elite for years to come.
(Photo: Troy Taormina / Imagn Images)
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