Ime Udoka was a Godsend for the Houston Rockets when he first arrived in 2023. The Rockets were in desperate need of structure and discipline.

Houston had stockpiled a good amount of top-end raw talent, by way of the NBA draft, which was a by-product of tanking. And although drafting the right players is a major ingredient, fostering the right culture and developmental plan is equally as important (if not more important).

The Rockets had ranked in the bottom five in defensive efficiency annually in the years leading up to Udoka’s arrival, which also increased the lure and appeal of Udoka for Houston's front office.…