Houston Coach Udoka Puts Rockets Players on Blast: 'Horrendous Mistakes!'

April 25, 2026

 The Houston Rockets are on the brink of being swept out of the playoffs by an LA Lakers team that is without both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Obviously, after their offseason trade for Kevin Durant, the Rockets were expecting to be a serious contender in the Western Conference. 

But after watching them squander a six-point lead with 40 seconds to play in regulation Friday night before losing in overtime, head coach Ime Udoka absolutely blasted his players, ripping them for "horrendous mistakes" among other things. 

Here's what he said he told the players in the postgame locker room:

“Grow up. You’re not young anymore. You’ve been to the playoffs once (before). (These are) horrendous mistakes.” 

Then, in speaking to the media, he questioned whether his players were scared of the bright lights of the playoffs.

"Horrendous mistakes," Udoka said. "I don't know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case... It’s obviously a weakness of ours to close out and finish.

“I talk about age all the time, but I’m not talking about 23, 22 (years old) or whatever it is,” the coach continued. “I’m looking at five years, four years, three years in the league and growing from there. Not learning from previous experiences.”

Of course, it didn't help that Durant was out for the second time in three games, with a sprained left ankle. He missed Game 1 because of a right knee injury. 

But with Reaves potentially returning at any time for the Lakers, giving Houston yet another hurdle to get past, the Rockets will have to "grow up", as Udoka said, quickly, to salvage their season. 




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