Yahoo Sports' Kevin O’Connor did not mince words this week when assessing Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, formerly of the Boston Celtics.
“The Rockets are never going to win anything as long as Ime Udoka is their head coach,” O'Connor opined during a recent episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show.
The Rockets are never going to win anything as long as Ime Udoka is their head coach. https://t.co/aHnPknzFBD pic.twitter.com/0QbbPiuqTj
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) March 26, 2026
The pointed critique comes amid a season in which Houston has shown flashes of promise but continues to struggle with consistency and offensive execution, despite adding future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant in the offseason
Udoka led the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals before his departure. Recent losses for Houston have ignited questions about his ability to maximize the roster’s young talent and veteran additions. O’Connor’s comments echo a growing sentiment that the Rockets’ ceiling may be limited by schematic and in-game decision-making issues from Udoka.
Beyond Durant, Houston possesses a ton of athleticism and a promising star big man in Alperen Sengun, yet the team has failed to string together sustained winning stretches this year.
Udoka’s defensive pedigree helped turn the franchise around initially, but offensive stagnation and late-game lapses have become recurring themes.
As the 2025-26 season enters its final weeks, the Rockets must address these shortcomings if they hope to contend.
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