The Houston Rockets have agreed to a long-term contract extension with head coach Ime Udoka, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal will reportedly make Udoka one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.
“This is an eight-figure deal annually, I’m told,” Charania said. “This is a team currently on the rise, with some good young players.”
The extension comes shortly after Kevin Durant named the Rockets as a preferred destination, with the Phoenix Suns expected to trade the star in the near future. It also occurs on the heels of the New York Knicks requesting a meeting with Udoka in hopes of hiring him as their new head coach.
Before inking this new deal, Udoka signed a four-year $28.5 million deal with Houston in April of 2023. He was previously the head coach of the Boston Celtics, where he led them to an NBA Finals appearance in 2022.
Houston’s Recent Success Under Udoka
Udoka led Houston to a 52-30 record and the second seed in the West before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs. It was their first postseason appearance in five years and the first since James Harden left the team.
Despite the first-round loss, Houston has made major strides under Udoka in the last two seasons. So far, he has led them to a combined 93 regular season wins, up from their 53-win total across the three years before his arrival.
They also had their first All-Star in five years, as forward Alperen Sengun earned the selection while averaging 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists on 49.6% shooting in 76 regular season games.
Along with Sengun, Udoka has overseen the growth of guard Jalen Green. The 23-year-old shot a career-best 35.4% from three this year, along with averaging 21 points per game. Green has played in each of the Rockets’ 164 regular season games since Udoka became head coach.
While the Rockets have yet to confirm details of the extension, Udoka expects to be one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA. Before the deal, Golden State’s Steve Kerr was the highest-salaried coach in the league, earning a reported $17.5 million per year.
The Rockets In Durant Rumors
Houston has emerged as a top trade destination for Durant after he named them, alongside the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat. After just two and a half seasons in Phoenix, Durant expressed his frustration with the team. The Suns reportedly shopped him at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, but a deal never came to fruition.
Now, as the offseason approaches, the Rockets remain a top landing spot for the 15-time All-Star. Durant will be in the last year of his current deal worth $54.7 million next season. He is eligible to sign a two-year $122 million extension between now and becoming a free agent next summer.
Houston is one of just a few teams with the financial flexibility to trade for Durant and sign him to the extension. A deal would likely include Green and either Jabari Smith Jr. or Tari Eason, along with multiple first-round picks.
At age 36, Durant averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 52.7% shooting in 64 regular season games. He is eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and one of only 12 players in history to win multiple Finals MVP awards.
Most recently, the Rockets extended center Steven Adams on a three-year $39 million deal set to expire after the 2027-28 season.
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