Former Celtics head coach Emi Odoka has agreed to a deal to become the next Rockets head coach. Houston and Udoka moved very quickly towards each other after their initial meeting. Udoka and GM Rafael Stone continued to talk business.
Both sides had some strong options in the market but a deal was struck in the last 24 hours to land Udoka with the Rockets. Young talent, cap space, and a 14 percent chance of being made the first overall pick were all part of a strong case for Udoka’s attraction.
In the wake of the news of Udoka’s hiring, Magic Johnson tweeted the following: “I’ve reached out to Im Udoka to congratulate me on accepting the head coach position for the Rockets! Houston gets a championship-caliber coach.”
Magic Johnson’s words of congratulation didn’t come as a surprise given Odoka’s impressive coaching record. While he may not have coached during the 2022-2023 NBA season, Udoka’s success with the Boston Celtics in his first year as a coach is undeniable.
Odoka moved the Celtics from a stuttering 18-21 record to an impressive 51-31 record, securing them the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Under Odoka, the Celtics went on to win the Eastern Conference title, and even make their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2010.
Udoka’s success with the Celtics has no doubt caught the attention of the Rockets, who are looking to rebuild and compete in the highly competitive Western Conference. With such young talent and so much space at their disposal, hiring Odoka as head coach is a solid step in the right direction for the Rockets.