In a recent interview, Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. opened up about the coaching style of Ime Udoka, who has taken the reins of the team. Smith’s candid remarks provide insight into the significant shift in the team’s dynamics under Udoka’s leadership.
When asked about the transition from previous coaching to Udoka’s approach, Smith didn’t hold back. “Anybody who knows Ime knows that he’s got some missing screws,” he joked, emphasizing Udoka’s intense coaching style. “He’s gonna coach you hard. You know what I’m saying? As you see, like, he’s made the team play hard. Everybody knows we’re gonna play hard, and that’s just who he is.”
Smith highlighted Udoka’s relatability as a players’ coach, noting that his experience in the league allows him to connect with his players on a deeper level. “He’s good to talk to—just a players’ coach, honestly. You can talk to him,” Smith said. “He helped me a lot. He obviously helped the team, helped the organization a lot. So I mean, things are looking up, man.”
Reflecting on the previous coaching era under Stephen Silas, Smith acknowledged the challenges faced by the team. “Silas was our first coach. He was a good coach. But like I said, man, couldn’t nobody control that. It was just a wreck. You know what I’m saying? And if anybody knows Coach Silas, like, he’s the nicest dude in the world. He knows basketball. He knows what he’s talking about. It’s just, as far as controlling that—it was tough for him. But Ime came in, and Fred and Dillon came in and put some control on it.”
The conversation also veered into Smith’s experiences off the court, particularly during his time in China. He humorously recounted his culinary adventures, stating, “The only thing I remember eating was McDonald’s, ‘cause everything else was a little different, you know what I’m saying?” He added that during his second tour in China, he made an effort to explore local cuisines. “I had to try pretty much—not all their cuisines—but just their type of cultural food. And it wasn’t that bad. It really wasn’t.”
Smith detailed some of the unique dishes he encountered, noting, “It definitely didn’t pass the eye test. The food didn’t. But I tried it though. McDonald’s was closed—I wanted to go—but them folks closed at 10:00. It was about 10:30. I’m like, ‘Hold on, I got to go get me some real Chinese food.’ Get you some good noodles, rice. They got the orange chicken over there—you can kind of stick with that.”
Despite his adventurous spirit, Smith did draw the line at certain dishes. “I actually tried pretty much all the bird. On a plate, with their wings like that—I can’t eat that sh*t, bro. I’m talking about feathers still on.”
As for his financial standing in the league, Smith’s contract is noteworthy. At $24.4 million, he would have been the highest-paid NBA player as recently as the 2007-08 season. In contrast, Stephen Curry became the first player to surpass the $40 million mark during the 2019-20 season, which would make him just the 29th-highest paid player next season. The NBA is set to see 16 players earning at least $50 million in the 2025-26 season, a stark contrast to the NFL, MLB, and NHL, which will have six players combined earning that amount.
Overall, Jabari Smith Jr.’s insights into Ime Udoka’s coaching style and his personal experiences highlight a new era for the Houston Rockets, filled with potential and a renewed focus on hard work and team cohesion. As the season approaches, fans will undoubtedly be eager to see how these changes translate on the court.