Former head coach Ime Udoka of the Celtics is getting ready for a chance to return to the NBA as the team gets ready
for Game 2 of its first-round series against the Hawks, where the team hopes to preserve the parquet floor and carry
a 2-0 series lead to Atlanta.
The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reports that Boston’s former bench boss will be interviewing on Wednesday for the head
coaching position of the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets let go of Stephen Silas following their regular-season finale by refusing his fourth-year option. They
shared the second-worst record in the league at the end of the season, finishing 22–60.
But the arrow might be heading up in Houston with a roster that includes Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun, Jalen
Green, and another top pick on the way.
The Rockets rank among the teams with the highest probability (14%) of both winning the Victor Wembanyama
sweepstakes and receiving the first pick in this year’s draft. Houston’s chances of placing in the top four are also 52.1
percent.
Among the other possibilities Houston is interviewing are former Los Angeles Lakers bench boss Frank Vogel and
assistant coach Kenny Atkinson of the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Rockets are reportedly interested in Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, should he decide to move,
according to Wojnarowski and others.
Udoka is also one of the candidates interviewing for the head coach position with the Detroit Pistons, since Dwane
Casey is switching from the sidelines to the front office. Of course, things could change after Houston’s interview on
Wednesday.
