Rockets Lose Key Assistant; What’s Next for Houston’s Bench?
The Houston Rockets suffered an unexpected shake-up on their coaching staff this month as assistant coach Mike Moser departed to join the Denver Nuggets. The Mike Moser Houston Rockets departure removes a trusted developmental figure from head coach Ime Udoka’s bench just weeks before training camp. His exit not only creates a gap in player development, particularly among the team’s young wings. However, it also raises concerns about whether Houston’s bench can maintain its continuity during a season filled with high expectations.
Moser’s value to Houston extended well beyond his title. He worked closely with the Rockets’ developing wings, helping refine shooting mechanics, positioning, and overall decision-making. For a team that relies heavily on emerging players such as Jalen Green, the absence of a coach so focused on their progression could create setbacks in individual growth. While the Houston Rockets coaching staff still includes Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Cam Hodges, and Will Dunn, losing Moser narrows the developmental depth. The timing makes it even more difficult, with a limited runway to integrate a replacement before the season begins.
Internally, the Rockets may look to Sullivan, who has long-standing ties with Udoka and a strong track record as a shooting coach. His familiarity with both the head coach and the system makes him a logical candidate to absorb portions of Moser’s responsibilities. Still, there are limits to how much one coach can juggle, especially as Sullivan already plays a crucial role in refining Houston’s offensive approach. Speculative external options, like Kevin Young, are often mentioned when NBA bench openings arise, but no credible reporting has connected him to Houston at this stage.
Beyond logistics, the Moser Rockets storyline now adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming season. The Nuggets and Rockets are set to clash on November 21st at the Toyota Center as part of the NBA In-Season Tournament. That matchup is one of the key matchups to keep an eye on for the 2025-26 NBA schedule. It already carried weight as a test of Houston’s playoff aspirations, but Moser’s presence on Denver’s bench creates an emotional subplot. For a team still fighting to prove it can make the playoffs, every early-season storyline only intensifies the pressure.
In the bigger picture, the Rockets’ coaching staff will be tested in how they adapt. Udoka’s assistants must ensure continuity and prevent disruption to the developmental progress that helped Houston take a leap forward last season. The franchise’s long-term vision is built on turning high-potential prospects into reliable contributors, and Moser’s departure temporarily unsettles that foundation. Still, with experienced voices like Sullivan and Ivey on staff, the Rockets have the ability to stabilize—though their margin for error has narrowed. As the Nuggets have shown in recent years, consistency on the sidelines is critical when chasing championships, a theme explored in whether the Nuggets could take back a playoff series.
Ultimately, Moser's split from the Rockets leaves a gap that the team needs to address with urgency. They will likely need to redistribute responsibilities internally unless they act swiftly on an external hire. Either way, the transition will unfold under the spotlight of a season defined by expectation and narrative-rich matchups. For Udoka, who recently signed an extension with Houston, keeping the franchise steady despite the staff change will be critical in ensuring the team’s trajectory remains on course.
