Rockets hire ex-Celtics coach Ime Udoka as new head coach

HOUSTON (AP)— Ime Udoka has been hired as the new coach of the Houston Rockets,a source familiar with the deal told The Associated Press onMonday.

Udoka led theCeltics to the NBA Finals last season, then was suspended for thisseason after the disclosure of an inappropriate relationship with afemale Celtics employee.

The personspoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the team hadnot officially announced the move.

He replacesStephen Silas, who was fired after three seasons.

The Rocketshad the worst record in the previous two seasons and finished tiedwith the Spurs for the second-worst record this season, earninganother lottery pick in this year’s draft.

The45-year-old Udoka led the Celtics to a 51-31 record in his oneseason in Boston. The Celtics finished the regular season on a 26-6run and beat Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Miami in the playoffs beforefalling to Golden State in six games in the NBA Finals.

Udoka wasn’tdrafted and played professionally in Europe ahead of a seven-yearNBA career that included short stints with the Los Angeles Lakers,Knicks and Trail Blazers before he spent three of his last fouryears with the Spurs.

He thenjoined coach Gregg Popovich’s staff as an assistant, working withSan Antonio from 2012-19. Udoka then spent one season each as anassistant with the 76ers and Nets before being hired to replaceBrad Stevens in Boston.

Udoka was acandidate to replace Nick Nurse in Toronto before being hired bythe Rockets over candidates that included Nurse, Sam Cassell andFrank Vogel.

Udoka takesover a team that made the playoffs in eight straight seasons beforethe trade of James Harden in January 2021 led to a completerebuild. General manager Rafael Stone said this month that he plansto pursue some veteran free agents this offseason to add toHouston’s young talent as the Rockets try to turn thingsaround.

The Rocketshope to build their team around Jalen Green, the third pick in the2021 draft and Jabari Smith, taken second in 2022. And they’ll getto add another top player this year as one of three teams with thebest odds to win the draft lottery and get the No. 1 pick at14%.

Terms ofUdoka’s deal were not immediately available.