NBA
Ime Udoka appointed as head coach for the Houston Rockets
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski from ESPN, Ime Udoka has been hired as the new coach of the Houston Rockets, who finished 14th in the West.
The Houston Rockets had a challenging season with a 22-60, finishing second to last in the entire league, with only the Detroit Pistons having a worse record. Despite having one of the youngest teams in the league, which was loaded with recent draft picks, the Rockets have expressed their intention to bolster the roster with experienced veterans during the summer to advance their progress.
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The Rockets struggled with injuries and inconsistent play from key players, leading to a frustrating season for the team and their fans. However, the team’s management remains optimistic about the future, recognizing the need for an excellent coach to mentor the young roster.
Ime Udoka is a solution for the Rockets
They have appointed Ime Udoka as their new head coach, despite his “limited” experience in the role. Udoka, who is 45 years old, has just one season of experience as a head coach in the NBA. However, he made a significant impact with the Boston Celtics, leading them to the playoff finals in his only season as their head coach. Unfortunately, his tenure with the Celtics was cut short due to an affair with a team employee.
Before his coaching career, Udoka had a modest playing career in the NBA, playing 316 games over seven seasons with an average of 5.2 points. He spent most of his playing career with the San Antonio Spurs and played in various international leagues and lower-tier American clubs.
After retiring from playing, Udoka began his coaching career as an assistant to the legendary Gregg Popović with the San Antonio Spurs. He spent seven years in this role before spending one season each as an assistant coach in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Udoka was hired as the head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2021.
The Rockets hope that Udoka’s experience as a player and assistant coach and his promising start as a head coach will help them succeed in the upcoming seasons. Udoka is excited to take on this new challenge and build a competitive team in Houston.