Ime Udoka

His father moved to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1970, and his mother was an American from Illinois.

Udoka attended Portland's Jefferson High School.

Udoka played for Utah State University Eastern and the University of San Francisco before transferring to Portland State University, where he starred for the Vikings.

Ime Sunday Udoka (born August 9, 1977) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player, who is the head coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Born in the United States, he represented the Nigeria national team during his playing career.

After retiring as a player, Udoka served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets before becoming the head coach of the Boston Celtics, whom he led to the 2022 NBA Finals.

After being suspended for the 2022–23 season, Udoka was hired by the Rockets in April 2023.

Udoka was born in Portland, Oregon on August 9, 1977, to Vitalis and Agnes Udoka.

After going undrafted in the 2000 NBA draft, Udoka started his professional basketball career by playing with Fargo-Moorhead Beez from 2000 to 2001.

Udoka played with Independiente in 2001.

Udoka played with the North Charleston Lowgators from 2002 to 2003.

Udoka played in the NBDL with the Charleston Lowgators, who drafted him with 39th overall pick in 2002 NBDL Draft.

Udoka played with the Adirondack Wildcats in 2003.

Udoka was called up to play with the Los Angeles Lakers on January 14, 2004, but was later waived.

After a stint in Europe, which included during the summer a brief contract with Žalgiris Kaunas, Lithuanian champions and Euroleague participants, Udoka returned to the United States and once again drafted in NBDL.

This time, he was drafted third overall by the Fort Worth Flyers in 2005 NBDL Draft.

Udoka averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game with the Flyers.

On April 6, 2006, Udoka was signed by the New York Knicks but was waived on September 11, 2006.

Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers' training camp before the 2006–07 season, getting the invitation only after Aaron Miles failed a physical.

Despite the death of his father during the preseason, Udoka impressed the coaching staff with his defensive skills and made the team.

After having played in only 12 NBA games in his career, Udoka started in 75 games played in the 2006–07 season.

He played 28.6 minutes per game while averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals.

In 2007, Udoka signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs.

He played in 73 games averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes.

In his second season with the Spurs, Udoka played in 67 games, and started in three, averaging 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.

After the 2009 season, Udoka became a free agent and eventually re-signed with the Trail Blazers on September 25, 2009.

However, he was waived on October 22, 2009.

Udoka signed with the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2009.

He played 69 games with the Kings, averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.

On November 24, 2010, Udoka rejoined the Spurs, but was waived on January 5, 2011, after playing in only 20 games.

On December 15, 2011, Udoka signed with the New Jersey Nets.

However, he was waived on December 23.

In January 2012, Udoka signed with UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB.

In August 2012, Udoka joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich.

Udoka's head coach on the 76ers, Brett Brown, also coached under Gregg Popovich for the Spurs, and Udoka and Brown were on the same staff in the 2012–13 season.

Udoka would win his first championship as the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals, 4–1.

Udoka was also the key for LaMarcus Aldridge's decision to join the Spurs in 2015.

Both Udoka and Aldridge played together with the Trail Blazers during Aldridge's rookie season.

On June 26, 2019, Udoka was hired as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

On October 30, 2020, the Brooklyn Nets hired Udoka as an assistant coach.