The Houston Rockets are set to add one of the league’s most respected shooting minds to Ime Udoka’s staff, with veteran assistant coach Chip Engelland expected to join the team, a source confirmed to The Athletic.
Engelland comes to Houston after four seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his reputation was built over a much longer stretch in San Antonio. He spent 17 years with the Spurs, a run that started in 2005 and wrapped up in 2022, and along the way became known as one of the NBA’s premier shooting coaches.
His track record includes some of the biggest player development wins of that era. Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Dejounte Murray are among the players often cited as Engelland success stories, a reflection of the kind of work he has done behind the scenes for years.
There’s also a built-in familiarity here. Engelland and Udoka already know each other from their time together in San Antonio, where they spent three years as teammates during Udoka’s playing days with the Spurs.
For Houston, the hire fits neatly with an offseason focus that has centered on 3-point shooting. The Rockets made 36.4 percent of their attempts from deep last season, good for 10th in the NBA, but they were far less aggressive than most teams, taking only 31.5 threes per game, which ranked 28th.
That’s where Engelland’s value could really show up. His work on shot mechanics and routine may be especially useful for Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, two players who bring major impact on defense but have been uneven jump shooters.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Is Already Testing Thunder Fans Trust In Sam Presti
Aday Mara was brought in by the Thunder with a clear purpose in mind, to help address the teams need for rim protection. In a draft that always puts Sam Prestis judgment under the microscope, the selection immediately invited the usual questions about fit, upside and whether Oklahoma City was targeting a specific need or simply taking the best player it believed would be there.
The early returns have only sharpened that debate, even if the full verdict is still a long way off. Maras Summer League showing drew plenty of criticism and put fresh pressure on the logic behind the pick, leaving Thunder fans to wonder whether this was the kind of calculated swing that fits Prestis long-term approach or the rare move that could come back to haunt an otherwise strong draft rsum. [Read more 🡒]
Shai's Future In OKC Just Got Thunder Fans Thinking Bigger
Shai Gilgeous-Alexanders place in Thunder lore already feels secure enough that his own father is talking about it in those terms. Vaughn Alexander said on the No Flukes Podcast that his son has earned his spot in Oklahoma City history and voiced hope that Shai stays put, a sentiment that lands differently in a market where stars do not always get the same runway to settle in and build something lasting.
Part of the appeal, Vaughn suggested, is the simplicity of life in Oklahoma City, where there is less nightlife and fewer distractions and Shai can just focus on hooping. He contrasted that with places like Toronto, where family and associates can create a different kind of pull, but even with that perspective, the future remains more wish than certainty, and Thunder fans are left wondering how long this partnership can keep growing. [Read more 🡒]