Houston Rockets: Fred VanVleet Sends 1 Clear Message to Front Office Amid Uncertain Contract Situation 1 Mar 25, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) celebrates with guard Fred VanVleet (5) after scoring a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

'He’s Got Some Missing Screws' – Houston Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. Gets 100% Honest on Being Coached by Ime Udoka

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 10:22 AM ET

Jabari Smith Jr. believes that Ime Udoka deserves his long-term extension with the Houston Rockets after he guided the team to its first Top 2 seed finish in the Western Conference since 2018 and playoff appearance since 2019-20.

In a recent appearance on The Dawg Talk Podcast with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Smith described what it’s like to be coached by Udoka.

“Anybody who knows Ime knows that Ime’s got some missing screws. As you see, like he has made the team play hard. Like everybody knows that we’re gonna play hard, and that’s just who he is,” Smith said about Udoka.

Feb 23, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) and head coach Ime Udoka walk off the court after the game against the Phoenix Suns at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

“And he’s good to talk to, just a players’ coach, honestly. You could talk to him, obviously somebody who played in the league, he can relate to his players. So I mean, he helped me a lot. He obviously helped the team, helped the organization a lot. So I mean things are looking up, man,” he added.

Houston Rockets waive Jock Landale in salary-shedding move

The Houston Rockets have a logjam at center with Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams returning, and Clint Capela joining the team on a three-year, $21.5 million deal, prompting them to waive Jock Landale, per The Athletic’s Kelly Iko.

Nov 6, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (2) shoots the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) defends during the fourth quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Landale joined the Houston Rockets in 2023 on a four-year, $32 million contract that included just one full guaranteed season. The team cut him before the July 7 deadline that would’ve guaranteed his $8 million 2025-26 salary.

He played 42 regular season games with Houston in 2024-25, averaging 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds on 53.3 percent shooting from the field and 42.3 percent from three-point range.