Ime’ to the Rockets!

https://theathletic.com/4446884/2023/04/24/ime-udoka-houston-rockets/?source=user_shared_article

The Houston Rockets are hiring former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka for the same role, league sources told The Athletic on Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

Udoka replaces Stephen Silas, who was fired earlier in April after compiling a 59-177 record during his three-year tenure.
Boston suspended Udoka for the entirety of the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies and ultimately hired interim coach Joe Mazzulla as his permanent replacement.
The Rockets were expected to have a list of about eight head-coaching candidates, The Athletic previously reported. In addition to Udoka, the list was expected to include ex-Raptors coach Nick Nurse — who was fired last week — Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, former Hornets coach James Borrego and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin.

Congratulations,  Ime.  Better WC Houston than EC Toronto. Everybody wins!!


Bob


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Ime will be taking over a very young developing team.   Glad that he got another HC gig.

ktron

New Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka sits down with GM Rafael Stone on The Matt Thomas Show on SportsTalk790. There is an audio only and a audio/video

https://sportstalk790.iheart.com/featured/what-s-on-matt-s-mind/content/2023-04-26-rockets-head-coach-ime-udoka-gm-rafael-stone-on-the-matt-thomas-show/

dboss wrote:ktron

New Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka sits down with GM Rafael Stone on The Matt Thomas Show on SportsTalk790.  There is an audio only and a audio/video

https://sportstalk790.iheart.com/featured/what-s-on-matt-s-mind/content/2023-04-26-rockets-head-coach-ime-udoka-gm-rafael-stone-on-the-matt-thomas-show/

Thanks Dboss. Interesting. I also saw the entire press conference on YouTube. There were some questions regarding his personal issues in Boston. I think he answered them very well. I wish him tons of blesssings.

https://www.si.com/nba/2023/04/26/rockets-ime-udoka-addresses-dismissal-from-celtics-i-had-to-own-it?fbclid=IwAR0Zi1hC0mn_hC_rxajcfMO1W6yyH_afRd0AfegXbLt8ZqHGYHmaRQb97CA


Rockets’ Ime Udoka Addresses Dismissal From Celtics: ‘I Had to Own It’


MIKE MCDANIEL21 HOURS AGO


Ime Udoka was introduced as the new coach of the Rockets on Wednesday, and he faced several questions regarding his suspension and eventual ouster from the Celtics.

Udoka was issued a full-year suspension by the Celtics last offseason for a violation of team rules stemming from an inappropriate relationship with a female subordinate in the organization. Udoka and the Celtics parted ways midseason, and the interim tag was removed from Joe Mazzulla, who subsequently signed a contract extension to become the team’s permanent coach.


When asked about the interview process with the Rockets and the discussion regarding the end of his brief tenure with the Celtics, Udoka described how it all came together.

“Well I’d say in general, like [Rockets owner] Tilman [Fertitta] alluded to, they’ve done their due diligence and homework on who I am as a person,” Udoka began. “I think we spent quality time together to get to know each other and clicked pretty easily and pretty well. But overall, I released a statement months ago when everything happened and apologized to a lot of people for the tough position I put them in and I stand by that and feel much more remorse now towards that. I spent this last offseason working on myself in a lot of different ways, improving in areas, and it gave me a chance to sit back, reflect and grow and I think that’ll make me a better coach and overall a better leader. But the situation, the matter, has been resolved and can’t really speak much about it.”


When probed further on whether he believed the Celtics were justified in firing him, Udoka further owned up to his actions.

“Yeah, I mean obviously, my part in it was to take ownership and accountability for my part. They had a choice to make a decision and chose to go that route, and my thing was to own up to it and take responsibility and serve the suspension, and I had to own it, honestly. Same thing I’ll preach to the guys. I can’t sit here and not take accountability myself, so it was their right to go about it however they wanted to and that was the choice they took.”

Udoka had previously led Boston to the NBA Finals. The Rockets hope those on-court results will follow him to Houston.


Bob


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Good for Ime. He will do very well down there! My boys should be excited!

db

Ime, in his own words, is owning up to his past mistakes and accepting personal responsibility.

That's the right thing to do, and now he gets another shot.

Best of luck to him in Houston.