Former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka has been hired as the new head coach for the Houston Rockets (New York Post, The Athletic, USA Today, CBS Sports, Sporting News, NBC Chicago, The Spun, WBZ NewsRadio 1030, Yahoo Sports). The team reportedly reached a deal with Udoka after parting ways with their previous head coach, Stephen Silas, following a less-than-successful 22-60 season.
Udoka’s hire comes after a scandal with the Boston Celtics, where he was suspended for the entirety of the 2022-23 season for violating team policies (The Athletic). Udoka had led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022 (CBS Sports), but the fallout of the scandal resulted in his departure from the team and his absence from the league until now (Yahoo Sports).
The move to hire Udoka makes sense for the Rockets in their rebuilding efforts, and there are rumors that he may try to bring former Celtics player Jaylen Brown with him to Houston (Sports Illustrated). Udoka’s coaching experience and previous success in the league make him a strong choice for the Rockets, as they look towards the future and aim to improve their record in the upcoming season.
