'Not All Men Are Created Equal': Coach Ime Udoka Reveals Plans For Rockets Starting Backcourt
HOUSTON — Kevin Porter Jr. may not have meant to make a grand entrance. But for a split second, even with the Houston Rockets in the middle of introducing Ime Udoka as their next head coach, eclipsed the show by walking into the Toyota Center's press conference room Wednesday afternoon.
Porter was the only player who attended Udoka's press conference. And although he did not address the media, the embrace the two respective parties shared at the end illustrated Porter's support for Udoka.
He sat front row listening to Udoka's objectives on how he plans to enhance the Rockets. And Udoka revealed strategies on how he plans to improve Houston's backcourt of Porter and Jalen Green.
"Not all men are created equal on the basketball court," Udoka said. "They [Green and Porter] can do some natural things that others cannot do. You have to harness that and teach it the right way. I see the big picture and the potential in guys that do things naturally well. You want to build on that. But as well as making them more well-rounded."
Udoka compared taking over the coaching duties of Green and Porter to the one year he spent as coach of the Boston Celtics with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Brown and Tatum were already All-Star teammates before Udoka's arrival. But each player took a significant step forward in their respective game under Udoka. Tatum became a better playmaker, while Brown's game became more well-rounded.
Udoka believes in utilizing players' strengths while incorporating their talents for the better of the team. Green and Porter set career highs across the board during the Rockets' 2022-23 campaign.
Green scored 30 or more points 16 times en route to averaging 22.1 points in 76 games. Porter had his best outing as Houston's starting point guard. He finished the season averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 59 games.
"In my six years of having this basketball team, there's no player that I've enjoyed talking [with] off the court, even during the games, then Kevin Porter Jr. right here," Rockets' owner Tilman Fertitta said. "I just want y'all to know that."
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