On Mind the Game podcast, Kevin Durant praises Rockets coach Ime Udoka
In an interview taped earlier in the 2025 NBA offseason, All-Star forward Kevin Durant sat down with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and former NBA player and coach Steve Nash for their 'Mind the Game' podcast.
Part one was released last week, and part two was released Tuesday.
Based on phrasing, it's clear the interview was taped prior to Durant joining the Rockets by trade — or at least before it was made official. But he did share some kind words for head coach Ime Udoka, who was reportedly among the top reasons Durant wanted to join Houston.
In a discussion about the types of defenses that star players like Durant and James routinely face, 'KD' said of Udoka:
You can throw zones in there, with how they mix up defenses.
When we play Houston, Ime Udoka does a good job in that. He would go one possession regular man, next possession zone, then go back to man, the next three possessions zone... all in the first quarter.
I don't care how good you are as a team, how connected you are as a group, how well you pass, or if guys are unselfish. If a coach does that and you're not prepared for it, you're all off balance.
As is customary for the podcast, the discussion remains centered around basketball philosophy and strategies, as opposed to transactions. But even while talking Xs and Os, it's clear Durant has an affinity for Udoka, who was Nash's top assistant during a shared 2020-21 season with the Brooklyn Nets.
As for James, his history with Udoka is a bit more mixed.
The complete podcast episode can be viewed below. Udoka is widely regarded as one of the top defensive tacticians in basketball, and he finished third in Coach of the Year voting for the recently completed 2024-25 season.
More: Mind the Game: Rockets star Kevin Durant explains why elite players need mid-range shots
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