1. Royal Terence Ivey is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.
16 Facts About Royal Ivey
1. 2.
Royal Ivey is the head coach of the South Sudan national team, who he coached at the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics.
3.
Royal Ivey played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns before spending 10 years in the NBA.
4.
Royal Ivey was selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
5.
On September 18,2007, Royal Ivey signed a one-year contract with the Bucks.
6.
On July 24,2008, Royal Ivey agreed to terms with the Philadelphia 76ers.
7.
On February 18,2010, Royal Ivey was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with Primoz Brezec in exchange for Jodie Meeks and Francisco Elson.
8.
On July 21,2010, Royal Ivey signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
9.
Royal Ivey reached the NBA Finals with the Thunder in 2012, but the team lost to the Miami Heat.
10.
On July 1,2016, Royal Ivey was elevated from a player development assistant with the Blue to an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
11.
On June 7,2018, Royal Ivey joined the New York Knicks as an assistant coach to David Fizdale.
12.
Royal Ivey remained with the Knicks after Fizdale's firing and served under interim head coach Mike Miller.
13.
On July 3,2023, Royal Ivey was hired by the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach.
14.
On May 3,2021, Royal Ivey signed a contract to become the head coach of the South Sudan national team, representing the youngest country in the world.
15.
Royal Ivey coached the team at AfroBasket 2021, the country's first major tournament.
16.
Under Royal Ivey's coaching, South Sudan qualified for their first ever World Cup in 2023 after going undefeated in first round qualifying.