Ime Udoka believes the Houston Rockets have more to show after another 52-win season ended with a first-round playoff exit.
Speaking alongside general manager Rafael Stone at media day Tuesday, Udoka discussed Fred VanVleet’s recovery, the team’s improved depth and the adjustments Houston expects to make entering the 2026-27 season.
VanVleet has returned to full basketball activity after missing the 2025-26 season with an ACL injury. Udoka said the veteran guard has looked good in five-on-five action but indicated Houston will be cautious with his workload initially.
“He’s doing everything, fully cleared and has looked really good lately,” Udoka said. “We’ll be cautious as well, smart about it, and my initial would be no on the back-to-backs going into it, just from a health standpoint and get him up to speed.”
Udoka expects VanVleet’s return, along with Steven Adams and the offseason additions, to help Houston improve its half-court execution.
“I think we were a little underskilled last year,” Udoka said. “I think our offseason additions addressed that, but also just getting Fred back is enormous.”
He also highlighted Adams’ offensive intelligence and screening ability.
“Steven’s offensive IQ is very underrated and particularly as a screener. He’s maybe the best screener in basketball,” Udoka said.
The Rockets also added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, giving Udoka more experienced players to incorporate into the rotation.
“When you get Fred and Steven back, two of our more experienced, high-IQ guys, vocal guys, the communication and everything goes up on both ends of the floor,” Udoka said.
Udoka expects those additions to allow Amen Thompson to operate in more ways instead of carrying the ball every possession.
“Amen doesn’t have to handle every time,” Udoka said. “He can do that obviously and he took some steps last year, but he can also play in every other position on the court as a screener, as a dunker, and everywhere else on the court.”
Houston went 52-30 last season but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the opening round. The Rockets also struggled to close games, finishing with 30 losses, including 18 in which they had held double-digit leads, according to Udoka.
“We’re not here to just make the first round,” Udoka said. “We want to make some real noise and I think everybody’s hungrier for that and to kind of not take the next step and not plateau, so to speak.”
Udoka also sees a benefit from the adversity younger players experienced last season. Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason were forced into expanded roles because of injuries.
“I do think that being thrust in those positions is going to end up being really good for their careers,” Udoka said. “Just watching them now, like they’re so much more confident than they were this time last year. So, there’s a silver lining to everything.”
Stone also addressed Kevin Durant’s future after his first season in Houston, saying the veteran forward has been an easy fit within the organization.
“He just wants to hoop, which fits great with our culture,” Stone said. “The one thing he wanted to make very clear to me coming out of last year was just how much he’d enjoyed it and how much he wanted to be here.”
Stone added that the organization expects to sit down with Durant again after the season, as it did last offseason.
For Udoka, the combination of returning veterans, improved depth and continued development has created a different feeling heading into training camp.
“I’m definitely more excited than I was going into last season,” Udoka said. “I feel like I know what to expect more from this group, which lends itself to some excitement from me to see what’s going on.”
