Celtics' Players Share Their Thoughts On Rockets Hiring Of Ime Udoka

Ahead of their Game 5 contest against the Hawks, Celtics' Derrick White and Al Horford shared their thoughts on the Houston Rockets decision to hire Ime Udoka as head coach.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets became the first team to fill their head coaching vacancy this off-season. The Rockets hired Ime Udoka as their new head coach Monday afternoon, as first reported by The Athletic.

Udoka is joining the Rockets after one season as coach of the Boston Celtics. Off-court issues forced Udoka's premature exile from Boston. But his former players with the Celtics believe Udoka will do a "good Job" changing the Rockets' fortunes.

"I am happy for him and wish him nothing but the best," Derrick White said. "I think he will do a good job of changing the culture. That's the kind of guy and coach he is. He is going to do a good job helping them turn things around."

White, who the Celtics acquired in February 2022, played half of Udoka's lone season at the helm in Boston. But White's first impression of Udoka came as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. White described Udoka as a "good basketball mind."

Al Horford said the Celtics, who are on the verge of advancing to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, still rely upon Udoka's teachings that led the franchise to the 2022 NBA Finals.

"I think it's good — I am happy for him," Horford said. "Last year, we were put in so many different situations as a team that we had never been in. All of that experience carried us throughout the year...It is good that he got that opportunity."

Boston began the 2021-22 campaign 16-21 at the start of Udoka's tenure. But the Celtics finished the regular season 33-10. But a successful post-season run led to Boston falling in six games to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

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