Rockets' Ime Udoka Addresses Marcus Smart Reunion; Expects Him To Play A Role Like Dillon Brooks
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The Rockets have made several offseason moves this summer. But to their head coach, one move is a bit more personal than the others, as Ime Udoka reunites with Marcus Smart.
Udoka coached Smart in their 2022 run to the NBA Finals with the Celtics, and now the 32-year-old has signed a $13 million contract to join forces with Udoka once again, but this time in Houston.
Vanessa Richardson of SpaceCity Home Network spoke to Ime Udoka recently and discussed what the head coach feels about reuniting with Marcus Smart and what he expects Smart would bring to the Rockets’ table.
“Obviously a great player. Obviously a player who checked a lot of boxes for a lot of things we lacked last year. Obviously, the defensive versatility that he brings is huge for us,” said Udoka about Smart.
“Playing with a lot of different lineups sets the tone; a lot of what we missed with Dillon Brooks leaving, he’s one of those guys every night that brings a certain amount of toughness and physicality. And then he’s another point guard out there, a cerebral IQ guy who can make shots and make big plays,” concluded Udoka.
Marcus Smart was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, the same year as his only NBA Finals run with the Celtics. His key defensive plays against the Rockets in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs proved that he still has what it takes to contribute to winning basketball if used the right way.
Smart ended the 2026 playoffs averaging 12.9 points, 5.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 39.4% from the field and 34.0% from behind the three-point line. This shows that the veteran guard can still perform well in high-stakes moments despite focusing on defense mostly.
The Rockets’ other key offseason addition is potentially the rookie, Bruce Thornton, who they drafted with the 31st overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. Subsequently, Vanessa Richardson also asked Ime Udoka about his first impressions of the rookie, who spent four years in college.
“He’s a guy that has been around for a while… Four-year starter and four-year captain in college. Even though he’s their all-time leading scorer, it’s not just about his scoring; he plays defense on the other end.”
“He’s great at passing the ball, takes care of the ball, and so it’s skills like that which make him look like he’s come ready to play… he can hit the ground running,” Udoka added.
During his college career, Thornton averaged 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while going 48.6% from the field and 38.1% from the three-point line.
In 2025-26, his numbers were only improving. He averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while going 55.4% from the field and 40.0% from the three-point line. Therefore, Thornton has shown that he has the potential to improve his game consistently.
As a rookie guard, he may not earn as many minutes as Marcus Smart would with the team, but if he can establish a mentoring relationship with the veteran over the season, it would be the perfect start to his young NBA career with the Rockets.