Rockets hire former Celtics coach Udoka as new coach

2023-04-25 15:35

Rockets hire former Celtics coach Udoka as new coach


Two weeks after the Houston Rockets officially ended the 2022-2023 NBA season and fired coach Stephen Sellars, the dust has finally settled on a new head coach.


According to a report by well-known NBA sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets have reached an agreement with former Boston Celtics coach Im Udoka. Back to the NBA .


Fired for having an affair with a female employee


At the end of last season, the Celtics' married coach Udoka was suspended for the current season after it was revealed that he had an inappropriate relationship with a female staff member of the team. However, he was officially dismissed by the team in February and was replaced by acting coach Joe Mazra as the new coach.


Coaching the Celtics


Despite being dismissed by the team, Udoka had remarkable results in his first season coaching the Celtics. After Udoka left as assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, he signed with the Celtics to become the head coach last season, and this was his first season as head coach. He has served as an assistant coach with the Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs for more than 10 years.


Rockets hire former Celtics coach Udoka as new coach


Under the coaching of Udoka last season, the Celtics entered the playoffs with a regular season record of 51 wins and 31 losses, and became the team with the best defensive efficiency in the NBA. Reece Ford is the first head coach to win at least 50 games in his first season with the Celtics since leading the Celtics to a 56-26 record.


At the same time, the Celtics also reached the NBA Finals with a young lineup last season. Although they lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals and missed the championship, this is the first time the team has reached the NBA Finals since 2010. Udoka's contribution is obvious to all.


Need Udoka as coach to revive Rockets


The Rockets have failed to advance to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. This season, the Rockets tied with the Spurs for the worst record in the Western Conference with a record of 22 wins and 60 losses.


Rockets hire former Celtics coach Udoka as new coach


With Udoka being officially approved by the NBA to be able to coach the team again, the Rockets immediately took the new coach candidate for the coming season into their bag, and he will serve as the coach to coach the Rockets to help the team get rid of the playoff drought next season.