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The Houston Rockets were 41-41 last season and No. 11 in the Western Conference standings. In 2024-25, they finished with wins while securing the No. 2 seed.
That type of year-on-year improvement has drawn attention around the league, and it's made Ime Udoka one of three finalists for the NBA's 2024-25 Coach of the Year Award. Other finalists are Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson and Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff.
Atkinson, who guided the Cavaliers from 48-34 in 2023-24 to a 64-18 and the best record in the Eastern Conferece this season, remains the betting favorite. Like Udoka and the Rockets, Cleveland didn't have significant roster turnover in the preceding offseason, which could make the year-on-year growth a reflection of coaching and development.
The league's annual awards were already voted on by a diverse media panel representing in-market, national, and international voices, and they only factor in regular-season results. Sunday's lists of finalists were determined by the actual votes.
Winners will be announced during the 2025 NBA playoffs. While Atkinson appears likely to be the eventual winner, it's an honor for Udoka to be in the conversation, and it reflects the significant progress made by Houston during year two of his stint leading the Rockets.
Much of the success for Udoka's Rockets is due to their top-five defense, and second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson is drawing serious buzz for All-Defensive First Team honors. In total, five players will receive that recognition. Thompson was not, however, among the three finalists announced Sunday for Defensive Player of the Year.
More: In second year with Houston, Ime Udoka could be in NBA’s 2025 Coach of the Year finalists
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets’ Ime Udoka named finalist for 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year
Continue reading...
That type of year-on-year improvement has drawn attention around the league, and it's made Ime Udoka one of three finalists for the NBA's 2024-25 Coach of the Year Award. Other finalists are Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson and Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff.
Atkinson, who guided the Cavaliers from 48-34 in 2023-24 to a 64-18 and the best record in the Eastern Conferece this season, remains the betting favorite. Like Udoka and the Rockets, Cleveland didn't have significant roster turnover in the preceding offseason, which could make the year-on-year growth a reflection of coaching and development.
The league's annual awards were already voted on by a diverse media panel representing in-market, national, and international voices, and they only factor in regular-season results. Sunday's lists of finalists were determined by the actual votes.
Winners will be announced during the 2025 NBA playoffs. While Atkinson appears likely to be the eventual winner, it's an honor for Udoka to be in the conversation, and it reflects the significant progress made by Houston during year two of his stint leading the Rockets.
Much of the success for Udoka's Rockets is due to their top-five defense, and second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson is drawing serious buzz for All-Defensive First Team honors. In total, five players will receive that recognition. Thompson was not, however, among the three finalists announced Sunday for Defensive Player of the Year.
Complete list of awards finalists for the 2024-25 NBA regular seasonpic.twitter.com/4bgbfQpohT
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 20, 2025
More: In second year with Houston, Ime Udoka could be in NBA’s 2025 Coach of the Year finalists
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets’ Ime Udoka named finalist for 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year
Continue reading...
