New Rockets head coach Ime Udoka looked to be in a great mood Monday as he welcomed 2023 NBA draft picks Amen Thompson (No. 4 in the first round) and Cam Whitmore (No. 20) to Houston.
Monday’s press conference at Toyota Center was the first time since last Thursday’s draft that Udoka was made available to reporters.
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As such, Udoka offered useful perspective on the start of their NBA careers and what their rookie seasons of 2023-24 may look like.
“They bring a ton of things to the table already,” Udoka said of Thompson and Whitmore. “I stress a defensive mentality, which they already have. Use their athleticism to their advantage.”
But unlike the last two seasons, in which top rookies like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. immediately received starter’s minutes, that playing time will have to be earned in 2023-24 as Houston transitions to what general manager Rafael Stone calls phase two of the rebuild.
Here’s a compilation of what Udoka said in Monday’s interview.
#Rockets Ime Udoka on what he’ll look for from Amen & Cam initially, “They bring a ton of things to the table already. I stress a defensive mentality which they already have…use their athleticism to their advantage.
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) June 26, 2023
Ime Udoka says the Rockets want to find the right mix of veterans to “kind of nurture these guys.”
He thinks the competition level is going to be raised. “Nothing is handed out anymore.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) June 26, 2023
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
Ime Udoka said playing time will need to be earned by the rookies and returning players. For all the talk of “phase two” that is a factor not often mentioned. Playing time will not be for development’s sake.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) June 26, 2023
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
“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
#Rockets HC Ime Udoka on his two new rookies: “Shooting is always at a premium so that’s something that I’ve stressed to them.”
— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) June 26, 2023
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