A member of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree is now one of the highest-paid head coaches in the NBA.
Ime Udoka, 47, got the bag on Thursday as head coach of the Houston Rockets. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Udoka and the Rockets agreed to a long-term contract extension. Houston was able to get it done after re-signing center Steven Adams to a three-year, $39 million deal. The Rockets also have to make a decision on guard Fred VanVleet’s $44.9 million option.
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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
Udoka coached Houston to 52 wins in his second season. He navigated the Rockets to pushing Golden State to the brink in a seven-game series to open the Western Conference playoffs. Houston loss the series to the Warriors; however, the franchise likes where Udoka has it. He also has the team eyeing 15-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, Kevin Durant as a piece it can add to its roster this summer. Houston is one of three marquee destinations Durant wants to go to for the long term.
Udoka, who was an assistant coach under Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs, has NBA Finals experience winning a championship in 2014 (assistant coach) and losing in the Finals as a head coach of the Boston Celtics in the 2021-22 season.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
