Ime Udoka, the former head coach of the Boston Celtics, has signed a long-term contract extension with the Houston Rockets, solidifying his place as one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA. This extension comes after Udoka’s impressive revival of the Rockets, who currently stand as the second seed in the Western Conference.
Udoka previously took the Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022 during his brief tenure before being suspended for the entirety of the 2022-23 season due to a violation of team policies. Joe Mazzulla stepped in as the interim head coach during Udoka’s absence and ultimately took over the position full-time. Despite his challenges in Boston, Udoka’s coaching ability drew praise from notable figures, including Miami Heat veteran Udonis Haslem.
Haslem recognized Udoka’s impact during their Finals matchup, stating that he was the one leading the Celtics rather than their star players. He credited Udoka’s leadership for Boston defeating Miami during that playoff series, highlighting the coach’s skill in getting younger players to buy into his system.
As the Houston Rockets continue to flourish under Udoka’s guidance, it builds anticipation for the possibility of an exciting Finals matchup between the Rockets and the Celtics in the future. With his new contract ensuring his stability in Houston, fans can look forward to further development from this promising team. The optimism surrounding Udoka’s continued success reflects a hopeful outlook for both his coaching career and the Rockets’ season ahead.