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Per league sources, Rockets coach and former Spurs assistant Ime Udoka was a huge fan of Stephon Castle’s (which Castle said he was well aware of). But with veteran Fred VanVleet manning the point guard position and young Jalen Green at the two-guard spot, Castle and his camp sent the kinds of signals Houston’s way that eventually led to him landing in San Antonio. Just as he’d hoped. “I think being (in San Antonio) was always number one on my list,” said Castle, who won Rookie of the Year in 2025. “Internally, I always felt like I was the best player in that draft. (But) I didn’t know what could happen. My agent always told me, like, anything can happen in a draft. Like, you could not work out for a team, not have talked to a team, and they can still take you. So, I mean, I wasn’t really planning on playing in Houston. I didn’t really know how any of that worked. I was kind of hoping I could slide my way to San Antonio. It kind of worked out for me.”
Marc Stein: "Mike Brown at best was the sixth choice for this job. Remember that the Knicks asked for permission to speak to Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Quinn Snyder, Chris Finch, and Billy Donovan. All of those teams said no. Jason Kidd and Billy Donovan both got contract extensions and no longer coach the teams where they were a year ago. It really looked like the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau without a plan to replace the first coach who had taken them to the conference finals this century. For things to turn around to this degree, the teamwork, the way that team has come together, the way Karl-Anthony Towns has embraced a new role, the way Mikal Bridges, who has been so maligned for how many draft picks he cost the Knicks, and the level that he has been playing in these playoffs."
Channing Frye: Ime Udoka is a great coach. Kevin Durant does not fit on this version of the Houston Rockets. Also, Ime is a very intense coach. If you look at what the Rockets were compared to what they are now, you look at what Boston was to what they are now.
Tim Reynolds: 11 coaches have made the NBA Finals since 2020. 6 are no longer with the teams they took to those Finals. 2024: Jason Kidd, Dallas 2023: Michael Malone, Denver 2022: Ime Udoka, Boston 2021: Monty Williams, Phoenix 2021: Mike Budenholzer, Milwaukee 2020: Frank Vogel, Lakers
Michael Scotto: Sources: The Blazers interviewed Rockets assistant Ben Sullivan for their head coaching job. He interviewed for the Suns last summer. He’s been an assistant for Ime Udoka (Rockets/Celtics), Joe Mazzulla and Mike Budenholzer (Bucks/Hawks). He played for the University of Portland.
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ClutchFans: Ime Udoka on if the offense will be different next year -- he says he expects to play differently offensively next year just based on the personnel that was missing (Fred, Adams, KD at the end). He says he does not see any changes to the coaching staff.
Varun Shankar: Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka both say this team should have won more games. Stone called the season frustrating. Didn't say firmly if team would make big moves but said even if HOU doesn't, expects growth from young players (mentioned Tari Eason, Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard) to lead to addnl success.
Despite the loss, multiple high-level team sources still believe their young core can contend for the next decade. Those same sources said Udoka will remain an essential part of the team's future. Durant too.
They've probably heard worse in their own locker room, the source said. Between Adams' off-color humor and Udoka's tough-love coaching, Houston's young core has developed relatively thick skin. Not to mention, the source explained, younger players are used to the pitfalls and perils of social media. "Good things came out of both those discussions," the source said. "They got s--- off their chest."
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At this juncture, there are no plans to move on from either Udoka or general manager Rafael Stone, sources told Yahoo Sports. Ownership has remained steadfast in its belief in a three-pronged leadership sector because of a combination of the turnaround in recent years and consecutive 50-win seasons, the latter of which was marked by major injuries — resulting in confidence from the top down.
While Ime Udoka will certainly be under fire for the part he played in the collapse, he signed a lucrative multiyear extension last summer that most league observers believe should shield him from being fired. The third-year Rockets coach is still considered one of the NBA’s elite defensive coaches, with this latest version of his team still finishing sixth in defensive rating despite losing their most impactful defender, Brooks, in the Durant deal (they were fifth last season). The offense — and the question of how to fix it — is another matter altogether. Perhaps the best answer to this question is going out and acquiring another superstar talent to pair with Durant this summer.
Will Guillory: Ime Udoka on issues that need to be addressed in the summer: "We do need to address some needs. The lack of shooting at times. Whether it's a backup point guard or our young guys did enough this year to run that when Fred's back. We'll take a look at all those things. We'll have some very interesting conversations. Having a little bit more of a mix instead of some duplicates out there."
Will Guillory: Ime Udoka on Kevin Durant's progress in his ankle rehab: "The mobility is probably the biggest (issue). There is some pain. That's something he'd have to tolerate. ... Certain movements are bothering him for sure. He's done some things on-court, but he's limited with those. When you can't do specific movements that hurt you or bother you, you can't progress."