Celtics coach Ime Udoka is already dealing with a potential yearlong suspension for an improper intimate and consensual affair with a feminine member of the crew’s workers. Now comes phrase that he's contemplating resigning altogether.
Sources informed Sports activities Illustrated on Thursday that the 45-year-old, who has been in a relationship with actress Nia Lengthy since 2010, is considering stepping down within the wake of the scandal.
Doing so would doubtless have a dramatic impression on the Celtics, who reached the NBA Finals final season for the primary time since 2010 in what was Udoka’s first season on the helm. A number of reviews point out that Celtics assistant Joe Mazzulla is anticipated to take over as Boston’s interim coach both manner.
Ought to Udoka resign, it could be a shocking downfall for one of many league’s greatest coaches.
A one-time member of the Knicks as a participant in 2006, he additionally had stints with the Path Blazers, Spurs and Kings earlier than turning to teaching. Udoka started his teaching profession in 2012 as an assistant beneath Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, the place he helped the Spurs to a championship in 2014 and was a significant component in LaMarcus Aldridge’s resolution to hitch the crew the next yr (the 2 performed collectively in Portland throughout Aldridge’s rookie season).
Udoka was then employed by the Sixers as an assistant beneath Brett Brown in 2019 and spent one yr with the group earlier than becoming a member of the Nets in October of 2020, a month after Steve Nash was named head coach. He additionally spent only one yr in Brooklyn earlier than being named Celtics head coach after Brad Stevens moved to the entrance workplace in June 2021.
Below Udoka, Boston went 51-31 within the common season. He additionally helped elevate the play of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, with Boston ultimately shedding in six video games to the Warriors within the NBA Finals.
Now, it appears Udoka may very well be on his manner out.
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