Recent Ime Udoka rumors are most absurd thing you'll hear all week

Houston Rockets fans have grown attached to Ime Udoka.

How could they not? Udoka's grit and competitive fire have come to personify this team. It's who they are. The Rockets will not be outworked, and that's partly because Udoka won't let them.

People around the NBA have taken notice. Udoka inherited a 22-win team and increased that total to 41 and 52 in respective seasons. He's establishing himself as one of the best coaches in the NBA.

So it's no surprise that a team with a coaching vacancy wants to pry him from Space City

Eastern Conference powerhouse wants Udoka

It's being reported that the Knicks would like Udoka to lead them. The Stein Line's Marc Stein has indicated the team's interest (subscription needed) in Houston's head coach.

The Knicks just unceremoniously canned Tom Thibodeau after a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a controversial move. This was a successful season for the Knicks, but after blowing excess assets on Mikal Bridges, it's hard to find an avenue for improvement. The Knicks are likely thinking that a coaching change could be what takes them to the next level.

That's all well and good. The Thibodeau firing was a bold move, but that's business in the NBA. The Knicks are free to seek a new skipper:

But they should start looking elsewhere if they're serious about Udoka.

Rockets won't let Udoka go

Stein also reported that the Rockets would swiftly reject any request the Knicks made to interview Udoka.

Of course they would. The Rockets are thrilled with Udoka. His leadership has revitalized the squad. Why would they let him entertain another team?

Yet, that doesn't singularly insure that Udoka will stay with the Rockets. Like anyone, he's free to quit his job and take a new one. If he wanted to go to New York, the Rockets wouldn't be able to stop him.

That feels highly unlikely as well.

Udoka should be happy in Houston

The Rockets have given Udoka the keys. His position in the team's hierarchy is obvious. He's more than a head coach. Udoka has woven himself into the Rockets' spiritual fabric.

What's more, he's clearly invested in what they've been building for two seasons. Udoka was instrumental in helping Alperen Sengun develop from a defensive liability to a distinct positive on that end.

Does he really want to abandon that project to do the same for Karl-Anthony Towns?

Ultimately, this is much ado about nothing. The idea that Udoka would abandon the Rockets for the Knicks is absurd. Rockets fans don't need to worry:

Their guy isn't going anywhere.