The Rockets have agreed to a contract extension with Ime Udoka that will make him one of the NBA’s highest-paid head coaches, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move was widely anticipated following Houston’s clear on-court success and recent overtures from the New York Knicks.
Udoka, 47, has completed two years of the initial four-year contract that he signed in April 2023 to coach the Rockets. Precise terms were not immediately disclosed, though Charania said on television that the deal would be worth at least $10 million annually. The previous contract was valued at just above $7 million on an annual basis.
Salaries for NBA coaches have risen in the two-plus years since Udoka signed that first deal with the Rockets, and coaches rarely enter the final “lame duck” year of their contracts. Thus, at some point prior to the 2026-27 season, it was inevitable that Udoka and the Rockets would enter into a new round of negotiations.
And with interest from the Knicks and Udoka coming off a season in which he finished third in Coach of the Year voting, there was enough leverage for the timetable to be moved up to 2025.
When Udoka took the Houston job in April 2023, the Rockets were coming off three straight seasons with 22 or fewer wins and a last-place spot (No. 15) in the Western Conference standings. All three of those teams were coached by Udoka’s predecessor, Stephen Silas.
During Udoka’s first season, Houston improved to 41-41 and No. 11 in the West. In his second season, the Rockets climbed to 52-30 and No. 2 in the standings. Despite having a relatively young roster, Udoka has taken what was previously a bad defensive team and molded them into one of the league’s best.
The success speaks for itself, and Rockets ownership (led by Tilman and Patrick Fertitta) is rewarding Udoka handsomely for a job well done.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Contract extension: With new Rockets deal, Ime Udoka now among NBA’s highest-paid coaches
Reporting by Ben DuBose, Rockets Wire / Rockets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
