Report: Rockets, Ime Udoka won't entertain interest from Knicks
With a sudden coaching vacancy, the New York Knicks reportedly have interest in Ime Udoka. But that interest doesn't seem to be reciprocated by either the Rockets or Houston's head coach.
'Regarding reports identifying Ime Udoka as a possible target for the vacant Knicks coaching position, Houston has no interest in entertaining that,' The Athletic's Kelly Iko writes, citing a team source. 'Both parties are committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason.'
As things stand, Udoka is midway through a four-year contract that he signed in April 2023 to coach the Rockets. Thus, the Knicks and Rockets would need to come to some sort of compensation agreement in order for Udoka to be let out of his existing deal, and it doesn't seem there's any interest from the Houston side in exploring that.
The Rockets have improved significantly in Udoka's two seasons with the team, and he just finished third in 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year voting. He's under contract for multiple seasons moving forward and is viewed internally as a foundational piece. Thus, there is zero interest from Houston in parting ways.
From a practical standpoint, the interest from the Knicks could perhaps be used by Udoka and his representatives in eventual talks regarding a contract extension. Salaries for NBA coaches have risen in the two-plus years since Udoka signed his initial deal with the Rockets, and coaches rarely enter the final 'lame duck' year of their contracts. Thus, at some point prior to the 2026-27 season, it's likely that Udoka and the Rockets will enter into a new round of negotiations.
In that negotiating context, interest from other teams around the league can build up Udoka's market, and it helps to be publicly viewed as desirable. But there remain no indications that he wants to leave Houston, and the team certainly wants to keep him around, as well.
Though the Knicks (51-31) made it to the conference finals in a weaker Eastern Conference, they actually had a worse record than the Rockets (52-30), even with Houston facing a tougher West schedule. Combine that with Houston having a younger roster with more room for internal improvement and a better future draft outlook, and it would seem that the Rockets are the superior situation from a basketball standpoint, as well.
More: Reports: With sudden coaching vacancy, Knicks intrigued by Houston's Ime Udoka
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