Can Houston Rockets Coach Ime Udoka Avoid Slow Start & ‘Taking Lumps’?

‘Taking lumps’? Unlike his lone season with the Boston Celtics, Ime Udoka hopes to find his coaching groove more quickly with the Houston Rockets.

HOUSTON — Ime Udoka is entering his first season as coach of the Houston Rockets. But overall, the 2023-24 season will mark Udoka's second year as coach of an NBA team. … with one similarity all about avoiding “taking lumps.”

His first head coaching position came during the 2021-22 campaign. He took over as coach of the Boston Celtics after the franchise elevated Brad Stevens to president of basketball operations. 

Udoka revealed that he and his staff participated in a coaches' retreat a few days before Media Day Monday afternoon. The event gave Udoka an opportunity to self-evaluate.

As a young coach still trying to establish himself, Udoka acknowledged that figuring out his team's attributes quicker is a significant point of emphasis to improve at the helm in Houston.

"We took some lumps early in Boston, which was due to a lot of injuries and COVID," Udoka said. "During the retreat, we relived what went wrong in Boston and talked about how to avoid some of the early pitfalls."

Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka (front) gestures from the bench. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics began the 2021-22 campaign with a 16-21 record at the start of Udoka's tenure. And following a 25-point defeat to the New York Knicks on Jan. 6, 2022, the Celtics were in an abyss. 

But instead of accepting the Celtics' fate as a non-playoff team, Udoka fueled his ball club with in-season adjustments and meetings to help save the season. 

The Celtics finished the regular season 33-10. And after a successful post-season run, Boston lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games during the 2022 NBA Finals.

Udoka proved he has the drive, philosophy and respect warranted to help a team reach another level.

Houston is hoping Udoka can replicate his mid-season turnaround in Boston to change the Rockets' misfortunes. But Udoka hopes to accomplish the feat before the halfway mark of the season.