After the New York Knicks expressed interest in speaking with Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets swiftly shut down the request. They followed it up by securing Udoka with a contract extension that solidifies his place as one of the NBA's top-paid coaches.
The New York Knicks requested to speak with Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka during their coaching search, but Houston declined the request quickly. The Rockets then gave Udoka a lucrative deal extension. Reports, such as one from Shams Charania of ESPN, say that the extension makes Udoka one of the best-paid coaches in the game.
With Udoka's new deal, the Rockets have made a big comeback after a rough season. With Udoka and general manager Rafael Stone at the helm, Houston has transformed its image by prioritizing defense. They finished the 2024–25 season with a 52–30 record, good enough for second place in the Western Conference. The team made it to the playoffs for the first time in five years, but lost to the Golden State Warriors in a close seven-game series.
Before Udoka arrived, Houston had won only 59 games in three years. Now that Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Green are young and on the rise, the Rockets are one of the most exciting up-and-coming teams in the game. Even though they excelled at defense, their elimination from the playoffs revealed that they needed a reliable half-court scorer. This led to rumors that they might try to sign experienced star Kevin Durant, despite questions about his age and durability.
Houston also re-signed center Steven Adams and is likely to extend guard Fred VanVleet this summer. Udoka's contract is the only one of these moves that is notable. Trade rumors are circulating the team, but Rockets insiders say they plan to build around their young players rather than making significant changes to the squad.
The Rockets' decision to extend Udoka's contract was both a business decision and a statement of their long-term dedication to their teaching staff and the team's future success. Although a big-market team like the Knicks is interested in Udoka, he is expected to stay in Houston, which is now poised to compete in the Western Conference's loaded division.
The Rockets think they are only one move away from being in real title contention as they head into what should be a busy offseason.
