The Houston Rockets like what they’ve seen from head coach Ime Udoka. Following the team’s excellent 2024-25 season, the Rockets reportedly signed Udoka to a long-term extension that makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Udoka, 47, was hired by the Rockets in 2023. During his season with the team, Udoka saw the Rockets improve by 19 games. After going 21-60 during the 2022-23 NBA season, the Rockets finished .500. The team didn’t make the playoffs, but it was an impressive turnaround.
Things got even better this season. The Rockets improved yet again, winning 52 games and making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. Despite securing the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, the Rockets were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in seven games during the first round of the playoffs.
Following that elimination, Udoka’s name emerged as a possible candidate to replace Tom Thibodeau after his surprising firing by the New York Knicks. The Knicks reportedly asked the Rockets for permission to speak with Udoka about the opening, but were denied.
Prior to joining the Rockets, Udoka served as the Boston Celtics’ head coach for one season. He led the team to the NBA Finals that year, but was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season for violating the team’s code of conduct. The suspension came after Udoka reportedly engaged in an improper, consensual relationship with a team staffer.
Weeks after that suspension, Udoka was nearly hired as the Brooklyn Nets’ head coach, but the team pivoted at the last minute. Joe Mazulla replaced Udoka in Boston and was eventually hired as the Celtics’ full-time head coach.
After sitting out the 2022-23 NBA season, Udoka was hired by the Rockets after the team fired Stephen Silas. Now inked to a long-term deal, Udoka will focus on trying to lead the Rockets to the team’s first NBA championship since the 1994-95 season.
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