The Houston Rockets are set to hire former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka as their new bench boss, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Udoka, 45, was suspended by the Celtics before the 2022-23 season for violating team policies in the form of an intimate relationship with a female member of the organization.
Interm head coach Joe Mazzulla was elevated to permanent head coach of the Celtics in February, officially cutting the organization’s ties with Udoka and allowing him to pursue employment with a new team.
In his one season with the Celtics, Udoka led Boston to a 51-31 record and an NBA Finals appearance last year.
The Rockets parted ways with head coach Stephen Silas earlier this month, declining to pick up his option after the team posted a 59-177 record over his three seasons.
Udoka was linked to the Toronto Raptors’ head coaching job in several reports after the team fired Nick Nurse last week. Wojnarowski reported Monday that Udoka declined to pursue the Raptors’ job or any other potential openings after the Rockets moved quickly toward a deal.
Nurse also had been linked to the Rockets’ job, along with Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin.
Wojnarowski says former Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel and ex-Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego also were involved in the Rockets’ search.
The Rockets, Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs share the best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery, with the top prize being French star Victor Wembanyama.
