Latest news with #Udoka
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
For Houston coaches, Ime Udoka prioritizes relatability to players
For Houston coaches, Ime Udoka prioritizes relatability to players 'I think we have a younger group that can relate to these guys, and they've noticed that,' Ime Udoka says of his coaching staff. 'If you build those relationships, you can coach them much harder.' At 47 years old, Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka isn't that far removed from his days as an NBA player. In practices during the 2025 playoffs, he occasionally joined the team's current players in shooting drills. Many of Udoka's assistant coaches with the Rockets (Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Cam Hodges, Mike Moser, and Will Dunn) are of a similar age demographic or even younger. That's by design. In an exclusive interview with Space City Home Network's Vanessa Richardson, the in-game, sideline reporter for Houston's regional TV broadcasts, Udoka elaborated on his philosophy for hiring and retaining coaches. Among his comments: They push guys, but they also build those relationships and love them up, at the same time. I think we have a very relatable staff, and that was a goal of mine, to have guys in here that have played and have a player development background. They can share the experiences with our young guys, and it's not always about the basketball, on the court. It's the talks about real-life things, off the court, as well. I think we have a younger group that can relate to these guys, and they've noticed that from day one. The bottom line is, if you build those relationships, you can coach them much harder. After finishing at 22-60 and last place in the 15-team Western Conference in the season prior to Udoka's arrival, the Rockets have improved to 41-41 in 2023-24 (No. 11 in the West) and 52-30 in 2024-25 (No. 2 in the West). So, the philosophy seems to be working, and especially for a Houston team that features a 'young core' of seven first-round prospects (Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Reed Sheppard) obtained from the NBA's 2021 through 2024 draft cycles. All are 23 years old or younger, which means they're at a stage in their development where they are highly impressionable. With most of those players taking steps forward in 2024-25, including the first All-Star berth for Sengun, Udoka and his staff appear to be pushing many of the right buttons. More: 'Work ethic and toughness': Rafael Stone likes Houston's culture for player development
USA Today
06-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Houston's Ime Udoka finishes third for 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year
Houston's Ime Udoka finishes third for 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year Fred VanVleet on Ime Udoka: 'To take this group from where we were two years ago to where we are today... one thousand percent, he should be Coach of the Year.' One year ago, the Houston Rockets were 41-41 and No. 11 in the Western Conference standings. In the 2024-25 season, they finished at 52-30 while securing the No. 2 seed. That type of year-on-year improvement drew attention around the league, and it made Ime Udoka one of three finalists for the NBA's 2024-25 Coach of the Year Award. Other finalists are Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson and Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff. Alas, it's Atkinson — after guiding the Cavaliers from 48-34 in 2023-24 to a 64-18 and the best record in the Eastern Conferece this season — who was the ultimate winner. Like Udoka and the Rockets, Cleveland didn't have significant roster turnover in the preceding offseason, which would seemingly make the year-on-year growth a greater reflection of coaching and development. Out of 100 voters, Udoka finished in third place with seven first-place votes, 13 second-place votes, and 39 third-place votes (113 total points). Atkinson had 59 first-place votes, 33- second-place votes, and seven third-place votes (401 total points). Atkinson and the Cavaliers are still playing in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, while Udoka and the Rockets were recently eliminated after a tough first-round series in the West against the Golden State Warriors. However, because votes were taken after the regular season, playoff results were not factored in. Bickerstaff finished just ahead of Udoka in second place, while those immediately behind Udoka included Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder; Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers; and JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers. For Udoka and the Rockets, it's an honor to be listed among those elite coaches, and it reflects the significant progress made during year two of his stint leading the Rockets. 'He should definitely be Coach of the Year,' veteran guard Fred VanVleet said recently of Udoka. 'I don't know how many people are talking about that, but to take this group from where we were two years ago to where we are today... one thousand percent, he should be Coach of the Year.' In the 2022-23 season immediately preceding Udoka's April 2023 hiring, the Rockets were 22-60 and finished in last place in the West. VanVleet and fellow veterans Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green then signed with Houston that offseason. Much of the success for Udoka's Rockets is due to their top-five defense, and second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson appears likely to earn All-Defensive First Team honors in the coming weeks. All of the league's annual awards are voted on by a diverse media panel representing in-market, national, and international voices who follow and cover the NBA. While the macro of the 2024-25 season for the Rockets was clearly positive, considering their performance relative to expectations and recent seasons, the micro ended with a bitter playoff loss to a rival. Udoka said after Sunday's Game 7 loss that he wants everyone in the organization to use that as fuel for 2025-26, including the coaching staff. 'We said no moral victories, or whatever,' Udoka concluded. 'We had our chances in this series. It's going to sting now, but use it as motivation. The growth that you've showed and learned this year, let's all come back better, coaches included.' 'That was the message: 'Don't be satisfied.' The experience is out of the way. Everybody will take it, look internally, and see how we can all improve. Come back better, not settle for making the playoffs, and advance.' More: 'Head of the snake': Jalen Green credits Ime Udoka for building Houston's culture
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Houston Rockets Expect Even More Physical Game for Game Seven
The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors series has had many altercations between players and coaches. The game 6 win was nothing different as there were again technical and flagrant fouls. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka loves playing physically as he feels like that type of style fits the Rockets. "It was a mantra going into the series: Play through everything," Udoka said. "It's going to be a physical game. Don't ask for anything. We want to be physical. So if the refs allow it or that's how the style of game is played, that favors us more often than not." Advertisement The Rockets-Warriors series will be remembered as a war of attrition, where bodies hit the floor nightly and every possession mattered. Game 7 will be very pivotal going into the offseason for the Rockets as there have been many rumors that they may be interested in breaking up the roster to have a better chance at winning a championship. The benches will play a huge role, especially in such a physical matchup. Tari Eason's energy and rebounding from the forward position could swing games in Houston's favor. It will also be vital to get Fred VanVleet going early and often. Vanvleet ability to attack mismatches and create offense will be critical.
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Curry leads Warriors to play-off win at Rockets
Stephen Curry scored a game-high 31 points as the Golden State Warriors began their play-off campaign with a 95-85 win at the Houston seventh-seeded Warriors made it successive wins in Houston, with Curry also adding six rebounds and three Butler chipped in with a further 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists to hand Golden State a 1-0 series lead - with Game 2 scheduled for Thursday."Steph was incredible. He was incredible," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said."With that type of pressure on him from [Amen] Thompson and others, he just made some amazing plays and, obviously, carried us offensively along with Jimmy." The Rockets, seeded second in the play-offs, endured a disappointing end to the regular season with three successive defeats and have lost back-to-back games at Udoka's side are featuring in the play-offs for the first time since 2019-20, when they lost against the Los Angeles Lakers in the semi-finals."I wouldn't say the moment, I would say the physicality at times, going after guys, and just play-off basketball," Udoka said when asked if a lack of experience cost his side. "It's not really about the moment. Going into the lane, trying to shoot over too many and not finding your outlets is a big thing and a big key for us all year."Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers sealed a 121-100 win against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Mitchell scored 30 points with Ty Jerome adding 28 points and Darius Garland scoring who picked up 16 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, was making his play-off debut.
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
‘Journey to Liftoff': On eve of playoff return, Rockets release feature film
'Journey to Liftoff': On eve of playoff return, Rockets release feature film On the eve of their first NBA playoff game in five years, the Rockets released a film titled 'The Journey to Liftoff,' which chronicles the path back. On Saturday, the Rockets released an original feature titled 'The Journey to Liftoff.' Dating back to the 2020-21 season, the film details the step-by-step journey of the recent rebuilding years and Houston's return to the NBA playoffs in 2025. Houston's upcoming first-round series versus Golden State, which starts Sunday night, will be the team's first playoff appearance since the 2019-20 season. For key young players drafted during those rebuilding years, it will be their first exposure to playoff basketball. 'We came in together, went through the struggle together, were at the bottom together,' Rockets guard Jalen Green, who leads Houston in scoring, said during the film of his relationship with All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Both fourth-year players were drafted in the 2021 first round. In a post promoting the film on the team's Instagram account, the Rockets listed key moments from their rebuilding timeline as follows: Jae'Sean Tate acquired (November 2020) Jalen Green drafted (July 2021) Alperen Sengun drafted (July 2021) Jabari Smith Jr. drafted (June 2022) Tari Eason drafted (June 2022) Coach Ime Udoka hired (April 2023) Amen Thompson drafted (June 2023) Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Jeff Green acquired (July 2023) "Sometimes you, sometimes me, always us," Brooks says of Houston's approach under Udoka. "It could be your night, one night, and not the next night. But what can you still do to provide for the team? Everybody is going to have their moment." Udoka, Brooks, Green, Sengun, and numerous other players were took part in exclusive interviews for the film. "It's always about the end result, which is winning and playing team basketball, unselfish basketball," Udoka said in his interview. The complete film can be viewed below. More: Rockets-Warriors predictions: How NBA analysts view the 2025 playoff showdown
