"He gets somebody who is kind of like more of a firm leader" - Paul Pierce points out the best thing about Kevin Durant going to Houston
"He gets somebody who is kind of like more of a firm leader" - Paul Pierce points out the best thing about Kevin Durant going to Houston originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Kevin Durant seems to be a good acquisition for the Houston Rockets. Durant is the go-to scorer and veteran superstar that the Rockets did not have when they faced the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs and lost.
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However, more than Durant's compatibility with the team, Paul Pierce believes that KD's fit with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is the better part of the deal for Houston.
"The best part about it is like Ime over there," said Pierce. "Like him under Ime, cuz this is the best coach he didn't play for since Steve Kerr. Think about it, even though it didn't work out in Phoenix and Brooklyn. It was Steve Nash who was a young coach who was still learning. And coach Bud wasn't really a good fit for him. And so now he gets somebody who kind of like more of a firm leader who gonna hold him accountable a little bit."
Durant and Udoka history together
Udoka is one of the top young coaches in the NBA as he is known for his strong personality on the bench. As a former player, Udoka communicates well with his players and holds them accountable. But perhaps more importantly, he and Durant know each other and have a history together.
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He was an assistant under Nash in Brooklyn during the 2020-21 season, which was KD's first with the Nets. He was also an assistant for Gregg Popovich on the 2020 U.S. men's basketball team which Durant was also a part of.
"I was with Ime, so I know how real he is. He doesn't sugarcoat a damn thing," Durant said last February when asked about Udoka. "He's gonna tell you exactly what he feels and how he feels you should play, regardless of what your status is in the league and that goes a long way as a coach. Your players will tend to respect you in the long run."
Aside from Udoka, Rockets assistant coach Royal Ivey was Durant's teammate in Oklahoma City and is also from the University of Texas. Ivery was also an assistant on the Nets 2020-21 team, so Durant's connection with the Rockets coaching staff runs deep.
Related: Kevin Garnett left Michael Jordan off his all-time starting five: "He is the god, and we copied him and s—t, but I got Kob' at my two"
Durant is going to lead by example
Aside from liking KD's rapport with the Rockets' coaching staff, Pierce also defended Durant from the criticisms about his leadership. According to Paul, no player works harder in the gym than Kevin, who loves basketball like a fish loves water. He thinks that his work ethic is going to rub off on his younger teammates in Houston.
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"KD gonna lead by example," added Pierce. "He getting in there early, late, whatever, getting shots up. If I'm them young dudes on the bench of Houston, he going to inspire. They gonna have to raise their level and I could see that happening with him there. The young boys though on the perimeter too, especially, Houston got some over there," added Paul.
There's no question that the acquisition of KD puts Houston in a win-now mode and the betting gods agree. The Rockets have opened with a top three betting odds to win the 2026 NBA championship. With Durant finally playing for a coach who not only knows his skillset but also respects him as a player and person, the Rockets could indeed be a team to watch next season.
Related: "What I want to see is KD win without Curry" - Kendrick Perkins doesn't want Kevin Durant back in Golden State
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
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