What Did Gregg Popovich Say About Ime Udoka Return? Legendary Coach?s Two Cents on Controversial Ex-Assistant

The San Antonio Spurs head coach and President, Gregg Popovich has taught many players the Xs and Os of the NBA. More importantly, he taught them to do it with a human element. Hall of Famers Duncan, Ginobili and Parker all had a taste of him in their glory days. It’s not just great players that Pop shapes up. Many of his assistant coaches have gone on to become terrific in their own rights and with their own team.

The one assistant that stands out is Ime Udoka. A player for the Spurs and an assistant to Gregg from 2012, the legendary coach had only great things to say about Udoka. After a controversial time, Udoka now leads his team with the Rockets. When asked about seeing his former assistant, Pop had a hilarious answer.

Gregg Popovich welcomes the challenge his former assistant brings with the Rockets

Talking to the media, Pop was the epitome of poise and strength. Even when talking about Ime Udoka; that lasted for all about 2 minutes or so. When asked about how he feels about seeing Udoka back as a head coach, Pop says, “It’s great … except I hate Ime tonight.”

One thing we can be sure of is that Pop just cannot pass the chance to speak his mind. Starting with a typical, robotic answer to the reporter’s question, he finishes off with a flourish. Trying to read between the lines, do you think his mention of hating Ime “tonight” could be a hint of concern for the game?

Keeping aside the Popovich element in Udoka’s training, as a player and an assistant, Ime Udoka had all the traits to lead a team. Pop himself has said that on multiple occasions. In 2021, when talking about Udoka moving up the ladder as the Celtic’s head coach, Pop said, “Ime has the toughness and the mind to where he understands how to maintain discipline … handle players … he has been able to stroke them and stay on them at the same time.”?[credits: CBS News]

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So, with the legendary 71-year-old’s nod of approval to his prot?g?, Udoka is all set to start a new chapter with the Rockets.

Former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach’s fresh start in Houston

Ime Udoka, in his only season with the Celtics, took them to the NBA Finals. It was a dreadful time when he arrived in Boston. Rapidly going down from their dominance of the past, it was Udoka who established the Celtics to their rightful place.

Tied with the Lakers for the highest number of rings in the league, Boston was surely a force to reckon with in the past. But with Ime shaping and sharpening the franchise’s face, Tatum and Smart put them in title contention once again. And this is what the Houston Rockets also expect to happen with Udoka leading the team this year. The Rockets had the worst record in the last two seasons and were tied, interestingly, with the San Antonio Spurs for the second-worst record this season.

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It’s clear the Rockets don’t give much importance to the Udoka scandal. His value as a coach dwarfs whatever personal problems he had going on. The James Harden drama in Houston led to a complete rebuild of a team that went to the playoffs for eight straight seasons. With the rebuild moving on, the Rockets hope to create a team around Jalen Green.

Ime has great confidence in the young talents that Houston has now. After three distressing seasons with Coach Silas, the Rockets’ management is counting on Udoka to get the team to playoffs at least for starters. Hopefully, this season won’t be as harrowing.