Background and career
Ime Sunday Udoka ( EE-may ooh-DOH-kə; born August 9, 1977) is an American-Nigerian 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. In April 2023, Udoka was hired by the Rockets.
Ime Udoka was born to Vitalis and Agnes Udoka on August 9, 1977, in Portland, Oregon. Vitalis moved to the United States from Nigeria in 1970 while Agnes was an American from Illinois. Udoka attended Jefferson High School in Portland.
Udoka played for College of Eastern Utah and the University of San Francisco before transferring to Portland State University, where he starred for the Vikings.
After going undrafted in the 2000 NBA draft, Udoka began his professional basketball career in the minor leagues, including a stint with the Fargo-Moorhead Beez of the International Basketball Association during the 2000–01 season.
Udoka played with Independiente in 2001.
Udoka played with the North Charleston Lowgators from 2002 to 2003.
