Latest news with #RoyalIvey
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Republic: Rockets ‘ideal trade destination' for Kevin Durant
The Houston Rockets are the 'ideal landing spot' in a trade for Phoenix star Kevin Durant, an NBA source told Suns beat writer Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. 'A league source informed The Republic the Rockets would be the ideal landing spot for Durant, saying they need a 'go-to guy' in the fourth quarter and have draft picks and young players to offer the Suns in return,' Rankin writes. Advertisement The story continues: Rockets coach Ime Udoka has a relationship with Durant. Udoka was an assistant in Brooklyn in the 2020-21 season when Durant was with the Nets. Durant is also close friends with Rockets assistant Royal Ivey. They both played at the University of Texas and were teammates at Oklahoma City. Confirming recent reports, Rankin notes that a Durant trade is expected to take place in the coming days. Among many ties to Houston and the state of Texas, Durant is also linked to Jeff Green, who played with the Rockets in each of the previous two seasons. For four seasons at the start of their NBA careers, Durant and Green were teammates in Seattle and Oklahoma City. More: Shams: Rockets, Heat, Timberwolves leading Kevin Durant trade pursuit This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Arizona Republic: Rockets 'ideal trade destination' for Kevin Durant
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Despite external coaching inquiries, Royal Ivey likely to stay with Rockets, Ime Udoka
Despite external coaching inquiries, Royal Ivey likely to stay with Rockets, Ime Udoka Despite recent interest from teams such as San Antonio and Memphis, it appears assistant coach Royal Ivey is staying with Ime Udoka in Houston. Despite external pursuits from multiple NBA organizations, it appears that longtime assistant coach Royal Ivey will continue working for head coach Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets for at least the 2025-26 season. 'Multiple teams, including San Antonio, have pursued Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey this offseason, but Ivey is expected to stay in Houston,' Marc Stein of The Stein Line reports. 'Ivey did interview for the Suns' head coaching vacancy that went to (Jordan) Ott, and he is a close friend of Kevin Durant.' Coincidentally, Durant remains a potential trade target of the Rockets. Both Durant and Ivey played college basketball at the University of Texas in the 2000s, along with DJ Augustin — a former NBA player who was recently hired to Houston's front office. Ivey also drew interest this offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. As with the San Antonio pursuit, it appears that interest was in an assistant capacity and not the potential head-coaching role that Phoenix considered Ivey for. Ivey has been a mainstay of Udoka's bench since the start of the latter's Houston tenure (2023-24), and it appears that partnership will continue for at least a third season. In 2024-25, with the Rockets finishing at 52-30 and at No. 2 in the Western Conference standings, Udoka finished third in NBA Coach of the Year voting. To no surprise, Udoka often credits the quality of his assistant pool as a key factor behind that success. In addition to Ivey's extensive NBA ties, both as a player and assistant coach, the 43-year-old was also the head coach when South Sudan secured its first-ever Olympic berth and victory in 2024. It's likely a matter of when, not if, that Ivey receives a similar head-coaching role in the NBA — but Udoka and the Rockets are happy to reap the rewards of having him as an assistant for as long as they possibly can. And it might even bring a few extra benefits, such as luring Durant. More: Report: Rockets assistant Royal Ivey could soon receive NBA head coaching interest
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Rockets assistant Royal Ivey could soon receive NBA head coaching interest
Report: Rockets assistant Royal Ivey could soon receive NBA head coaching interest Rockets assistant Royal Ivey is among a list of candidates currently being evaluated by the Suns for their head coaching vacancy, Chris Haynes reports. The Houston Rockets (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference standings) have overachieved all expectations in the 2024-25 NBA season, and head coach Ime Udoka is getting consideration for Coach of the Year honors. Those accomplishments, of course, also speak well to the talented coaching staff on Udoka's bench. That includes Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, a former NBA player who coached South Sudan to its first-ever Olympic berth and victory last offseason. Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise if Ivey gets a look at other head coaching vacancies around the NBA. Per longtime league insider Chris Haynes, Ivey could potentially receive an interview with the Phoenix Suns, who recently opted to move on from Mike Budenholzer. From Haynes' YouTube channel (Haynes Briefs): Sources relayed to me that these are a list of coaching candidates that are going to be looked at by the Phoenix Suns. Mike Brown, former head coach of the Sacramento Kings. Willie Green, current Pelicans head coach. We're going to see, is Willie going to stay there in New Orleans? I mean, New Orleans just parted ways with its president of basketball operations, David Griffin. If Willie is going to be outed, Phoenix is definitely going to take a look. Willie (previously) spent some time in Phoenix. Miami assistant Chris Quinn, Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant. Mavericks assistants Sean Sweeney and Jared Dudley. Dudley played in Phoenix, and has strong ties to the Phoenix area. Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, and current Suns assistant David Fizdale. And former Suns assistant and current BYU head coach Kevin Young. Those are some names that I was told that the team will look into and evaluate, and (then) choose who they're going to bring in for interviews. These are largely guys who played in the NBA before, or are young, up-and-coming guys. I think a lot of teams feel like they need a voice that's not too far removed from playing, or a young up-and-coming assistant coach who has the ear of the players. Look at the Lakers (and JJ Redick). If you look at the issues with Bud and the players on this Suns team, that lack of communication was key, so bringing in somebody who has the ear of the players and can communicate and relay a message properly, and be received in the right way… that's going to be very important. Time will tell as to whether Ivey ultimately lands an interview with the Suns or other teams, but it's positive news for his career that he's in the conversation, no matter what. And it also shows that Houston's strong performance this season is drawing attention around the league. More: In second year with Houston, Ime Udoka could be in NBA's 2025 Coach of the Year finalists
