ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has ‘no doubt' that Ime Udoka will bring NBA title to Houston
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has 'no doubt' that Ime Udoka will bring NBA title to Houston ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on Ime Udoka: 'This man has resurrected the Houston Rockets franchise, from the moment he arrived. Ime Udoka is one of the top five coaches in basketball. He is special.'
Now with a coaching vacancy, the New York Knicks reportedly have interest in hiring Ime Udoka. But that interest doesn't seem to be reciprocated by either the Rockets or Houston's head coach.
ESPN media personality Stephen A. Smith, a longtime fan of the Knicks, addressed the topic on Wednesday's First Take. While he said he would love for Udoka to coach in New York, he knows it won't happen.
Among Smith's comments:
It ain't gonna happen. And it's not going to happen because as much as I love it (the idea of Udoka coaching the Knicks), Tilman Fertitta loves Ime Udoka more.
This man has resurrected the Houston Rockets franchise, from the moment he arrived. Ime Udoka is one of the top five coaches in basketball. He is special. I'm saying it here, clear as day: I have no doubt that Ime Udoka is going to deliver a championship to Houston, eventually. They're probably going to have to trade Jalen Green, because you can't have a face of the franchise that can't make shots in most of his games when you really need him to. You're probably going to have to go out, whether it's a KD (Kevin Durant) or somebody else, and add a piece. You need a closer.
The complete segment can be viewed below (at 18:47). In the two years since his arrival in Houston, Udoka has lifted the Rockets from 22-60 and last place in the 15-team Western Conference to 52-30 and No. 2 in the West last season.
'I happen to know Tilman Fertitta,' Smith said of Houston's ownership. 'I've got profound respect for that man. Ime ain't getting out of Houston for next season.'
More: Report: Rockets, Ime Udoka won't entertain interest from Knicks
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