In what was internally viewed as Phase 1 of Houston’s rebuild under former head coach Stephen Silas, top rookies Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. averaged more than 30 minutes per game in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 season — even when both clearly struggled.
Entering 2023-24, as the Rockets enter Phase 2 of the rebuild under new head coach Ime Udoka, it sounds as if the standard will be very different. (The addition of several veterans from Houston’s massive salary cap room entering free agency may also be a factor.)
Whatever the case, Udoka made it clear at Monday’s introductory press conference for newly drafted rookies Amen Thompson (No. 4 of the NBA’s 2023 first round) and Cam Whitmore (No. 20) that they would have to earn playing time. Furthermore, the same goes for the rest of Houston’s developing roster.
Here’s what Udoka said Monday at Toyota Center:
A lot of the (playing) time and positions, those things have been given, so to speak, with the young guys. There’ll be changes now in Phase 2. We are adding some more young pieces but also adding some veterans. So I think this will kind of raise the level of competition. Nothing is handed out anymore.
Myself and the new staff coming in, we’ve kind of stressed that to the guys. For us, it’s just adding the right pieces, raising the whole level of the organization. I think veterans will help, but we love the young, talented guys, and it’s a balance. Some guys will play different roles than they have been.
But I think we have high-character guys that are all used to winning and trying to get on that level. And so they’ll do what they have to do to sacrifice for the team, but it is Phase 2, and we’re looking forward to taking a big step.
Additional information and tidbits on Udoka, along with full video of the press conference in its entirety, is available below.
Ime Udoka vows no (minute) handouts
Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka were asked by @BenDuBose: During Phase 1, your top rookies played 30+ minutes per game, how does that change in Phase 2?
Ime Udoka: "Nothing is handed out anymore…some guys will play different roles than they have been."
Full answer from Coach Udoka pic.twitter.com/YgZkYVN3uf
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka on expectations
Ime Udoka: "One thing I've never done is not made the playoffs and we want to take that next step here as well."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) June 26, 2023
Rockets willing to sacrifice to win
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said he’ll strive to balance playing the Rockets’ young guys and any veterans they add. “Nothing is handed out anymore,” he said. “Some guys will play different roles than they have been.”
Said he thinks they have players willing to sacrifice to win.
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) June 26, 2023
Udoka takes the gloves off
Rafael Stone said Ime Udoka has been with the team a month or two now and the gloves came off with the squad about 3-4 weeks ago, so he and Ime have had more discussions on the direction of the team.
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka stresses defense, shooting to rookies
Ime Udoka says he's stressed to both rookies to have a "defensive mentality."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka on his initial advice to Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore: "Shooting is always at a premium, so that's what I'm stressing to them to work on." #Rockets
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka on mixing young players, veterans
#Rockets Coach Ime Udoka on adding more young players and adding a mix of veterans pic.twitter.com/NSHHAJP2Iq
— Chris Gordy (@ChrisGordy) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka on Houston’s 2023 draft
#Rockets HC Ime Udoka on coming away with Ime and Cam in the draft: “Obviously it was a huge night for us.”
— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) June 26, 2023
"These are two guys that we targeted with early picks. Wasn't expected at all (with Whitmore sliding like he did), but it was a pleasant surprise…we're extremely happy with the guys we got," – #Rockets HC Ime Udoka on landing @_CamWhitmore_
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka on Houston’s draft-night haul.
“These are two guys that we targeted with early picks. To get two guys of this caliber, it was a huge night for us.
Said he wants Whitmore to use his slide to No. 20 as motivation.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) June 26, 2023
