The Houston Rockets and new head coach Ime Udoka are close to naming NBA veteran Tiago Splitter as an assistant coach, as first reported by Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Splitter has worked as an assistant in Brooklyn since 2019.
When Udoka was an assistant to Gregg Popovich for seven seasons in San Antonio, several of those featured Splitter as a key rotation player. That run included the Spurs’ 2014 championship.
Then, Splitter worked alongside Udoka as an assistant with the Nets in the 2020-21 season. At the time, Steve Nash was in the lead chair. Between those two stints, there seems to be a clear rapport.
Splitter, 38, becomes the latest member of a Houston coaching staff that is clearly prioritizing youth and energy. While Udoka’s complete staff with the Rockets has yet to be announced, names expected to be included on the final list are Boston’s Ben Sullivan, Garrett Jackson and Mike Moser, along with Splitter and Royal Ivey from Brooklyn and Cam Hodges from the Los Angeles Clippers.
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The Houston Rockets are close to hiring Tiago Splitter as an assistant under Ime Udoka, sources tell @TheAthletic. Splitter previously worked with Udoka in Brooklyn.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) June 23, 2023