Ime Udoka agrees to a long-term extension with the Houston Rockets after a breakout season

The Houston Rockets head coach, Ime Udoka, has committed his future to the franchise by reportedly agreeing to a long-term contract extension, according to National Basketball Association (NBA) insider and ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“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,” Charania wrote in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

This move comes after Udoka led the Rockets to their first top-two finish in the Western Conference standings in seven years and their first playoff berth since the 2019–20 season, where they were knocked out in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.

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 guided Houston to a 52–35 win-loss record, ensuring a staggering turnaround in just two seasons after the team had ranked among the worst in the league for the three seasons prior to his arrival. The Rockets have won a total of 93 games under Udoka, compared to just 59 wins in the three seasons before he was hired.

It is understood that the New York Knicks expressed interest in speaking with Udoka regarding their vacant head coach role, but Rockets management denied their request. The 47-year-old joined Houston on April 25, 2023, after spending one season with the Boston Celtics, whom he led to the NBA Finals in 2021–22.

“The foundation was laid last year, but I felt we could take another step this year. We saw growth within all our guys last year. And so to come into this year with our second year of them not having to learn the schemes or terminology and what we were expecting, you expect it to take somewhat of a jump,” Udoka said during Houston’s run to the 2024–25 NBA playoffs.

Udoka’s contract extension is the latest smart piece of business by the Rockets’ front office. It follows the re-signing of center Steven Adams to a three-year, $39 million contract, while the team also faces a decision on Fred VanVleet’s $44.9 million team option before the June 29 deadline. 

Additionally, Houston is considered one of the preferred destinations for NBA legend Kevin Durant, as he explores a possible exit from the Phoenix Suns.

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