Ime Udoka, head coach of the Houston Rockets, is proving that despite his controversial departure from the Boston Celtics, he’s coming out on top. After being suspended by the Celtics for an inappropriate workplace relationship in 2022, Udoka’s career seemed uncertain. However, as he continues to turn around the Rockets, it’s clear that he is getting the last laugh—not only on those who doubted him but also on his former team.

Under Udoka’s leadership, the Houston Rockets have experienced a dramatic transformation. In his first season, he doubled the team’s win total, taking them from a 21-win team to a 41-win team. This year, the Rockets are already sitting comfortably with the second-best record in the Western Conference, and they recently defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, the top team in the West. Udoka’s coaching has brought stability to the Rockets, and the team is thriving, much to the surprise of many who wrote him off after his scandal in Boston.

The Celtics’ decision to fire Udoka, despite his success in leading the team to the NBA Finals in his first season, raised many eyebrows. His firing, reportedly due to a workplace affair, was seen by many as excessive, especially given that such situations are not uncommon in professional sports. The media attention around the affair, and the decision to keep the involved woman’s identity private, created unnecessary drama and overshadowed the real issue. As Jalen Rose pointed out in a recent interview, workplace romances happen frequently in all industries, and it’s often a power struggle or other internal factors that lead to these decisions, not just the affair itself.

Udoka’s situation at the Celtics was more complicated than just a personal mistake. Many believe that there were other factors—like team politics and management struggles—that contributed to his firing. The Celtics’ poor handling of the situation, including the public shaming and media frenzy, created a messy narrative that has been difficult to untangle.

Now, as he leads the Rockets to success, Udoka’s critics are left eating their words. His ability to turn a bottom-tier team into a competitive force in the West speaks volumes about his coaching abilities. It’s clear that Udoka’s talents were never in question; the real issue was how the Celtics managed his departure.

With the Rockets now contending for the top spot in the West, it’s safe to say that Udoka has found a better fit with Houston. He’s not only proving his worth as a coach but also sending a clear message to his former team and critics—he’s back, and he’s better than ever. Udoka is getting the last laugh, and it’s a reminder that in the world of sports, talent often prevails over controversy.