- Ime Udoka to become one of NBA’s highest-paid coaches
- Rockets finished 52-30 under Udoka but lost in playoffs to Golden State
- New York Knicks were denied permission to approach Udoka
Key Takeaways:
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a long-term contract extension, ESPN reported. The new deal is expected to make Udoka one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA. The 47-year-old Ime Udoka led the Rockets to a balance of 52-30 this season and second place in the Western Conference. Houston, however, lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the first round of the playoffs.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a long-term contract extension with the franchise that makes him one of the highest paid NBA coaches, after a 52-win season and top-2 seed for the first time in seven years, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/fah9NMuWyj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2025
Houston rejected a request from the New York Knicks earlier this month to negotiate with Udoka regarding their vacant head coaching position. Udoka joined the Rockets after being suspended and later dismissed by the Boston Celtics during the 2022/23 season for violating team rules. He led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his only season as head coach in 2021/22.
Ime Udoka has a record of 144 wins and 102 losses as head coach of the Celtics and Rockets.