The Houston Rockets have agreed to hire Ime Udoka as their next coach, ending a seven-month exile for the former Boston Celtics coach who was suspended for engaging in an improper relationship with a female team employee.
in September, just months after the 45-year-old had guided the team to a 51-31 record and an NBA Finals berth in his first season on the job. After initially replacing Udoka with assistant coach Joe Mazzulla on an interim basis, the Celtics made Mazzulla their permanent coach in February while parting ways with Udoka.
With Houston, Udoka will inherit one of the NBA’s youngest rosters, which is headlined by first-round draft picks Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun. Udoka, who spent seven seasons in the NBA as a defensive-minded role player, will be tasked with replicating Boston’s elite defense in Houston, which ranked 29th in defensive efficiency last season.
The Rockets parted ways with coach Stephen Silas earlier this month after a dismal three-year tenure. Silas, the son of former NBA player and coach Paul Silas, accumulated a 59-177 record during an extensive rebuilding effort following the 2021 trade of James Harden. Harden’s departure ended an eight-year run of postseason appearances for the Rockets, and General Manager Rafael Stone has struggled to accumulate proven talent in his three years on the job. Hiring Udoka is a sign that Houston intends on making progress in the standings next season, a logical development given that the Rockets will keep their 2024 first-round pick only if it lands in the top four selections.
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