HoopsHype: Rockets coach Ime Udoka had wanted Kevin Durant trade for years
After the Kevin Durant trade, what's next for the Rockets, Suns, Heat, Timberwolves & Raptors? How Tyrese Haliburton's injury may affect Myles Turner, Thunder notes, Kings trade talks, Guerschon Yabusele's free agency & a Chris Boucher chat on @hoopshype. https://t.co/JPtV9tM1wQ
It was widely reported during Houston's successful trade pursuit of Kevin Durant that head coach Ime Udoka was among the leading voices in support of Durant joining the Rockets.
So, too, was assistant coach Royal Ivey, who shares University of Texas basketball program lineage with Durant and has coached alongside Udoka at multiple stops. Both Udoka and Ivey were assistant coaches during Durant's first playing season (2020-21) with the Brooklyn Nets.
In between those Brooklyn days and their current roles in Houston, Udoka spent one year as head coach of the Boston Celtics (who he guided to the 2022 NBA Finals). As it turns out, Udoka's fondness for Durant was enough that he was trying to trade for the All-Star forward and future Hall of Famer then!
Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype:
Durant reunites with Udoka, whom he spent time with on the Nets. Udoka was head coach of the Celtics and was in favor of the organization trying to acquire Durant when the organization dangled a package centered around Jaylen Brown, league sources told HoopsHype. Now, while finalizing his contract extension with the Rockets, Udoka encouraged Houston to trade for Durant, sources said. This time, Udoka got his man.
Durant will reunite with Royal Ivey, his former NBA teammate (with the Oklahoma City Thunder) and assistant coach, who turned down interest from the Grizzlies and Spurs for assistant coaching positions to remain in Houston alongside Udoka. Ivey also interviewed for Phoenix's head coaching opening. Within league circles, Ivey's decision to stay with Houston was a potential sign that Durant would ultimately end up with the Rockets.
Brown, 28, is eight years younger than the 36-year-old Durant — and that age gap likely played a role in Boston's front office not choosing to go down that path in trade talks with the Nets.
But in Houston, the players sent out as part of the June 2025 Durant trade package — Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks — aren't nearly as accomplished as Brown (an All-Star) was in Boston. So in this case, the front office and Udoka were in alignment, and a deal got to the finish line.
'His day-to-day approach is unlike anybody I've been around or seen,' Udoka said of Durant on a Rockets-Suns gameday in March (via Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic). 'With all the accolades he still has a chip, is grumpy as hell every other day, but he holds himself to a high standard.'
More: Despite external coaching inquiries, Royal Ivey likely to stay with Rockets, Ime Udoka
"His day-to-day approach is unlike anybody I've been around or seen."Rockets coach Ime Udoka on Kevin Durant. Was an assistant in Brooklyn when Durant was there."With all the accolades he still has a chip, is grumpy as hell every other day, but he holds himself to a high… pic.twitter.com/VnBeBoNesW
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