Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics has been suspended for the 2022-23 season following an alleged affair with a staffer.
The Boston Celtics announced that head coach Ime Udoka has been suspended for the whole 2022-23 season for “violations of team policies.” His future with the squad after this season will be decided at a later point.
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said in a statement. “I apologize for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the decision of the team.” I will make no additional comments out of respect for everyone concerned.”
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Joe Mazzulla, who has been an assistant with the Celtics since 2019, will serve as interim head coach this season.
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Wojnarowski stated on Wednesday evening that Udoka was perhaps facing a significant suspension as a result of an alleged violation of organizational norms.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium claimed later that night that Udoka had a consensual relationship with a female Celtics staff member:
Udoka has no plans to quit from his post, according to Turner Sports’ Chris Haynes. However, Wojnarowski stated on Thursday that there is no certainty Udoka will return to the team after the 2022-23 season.
During the 2021 summer, Udoka was part of a significant shift in the Celtics’ leadership hierarchy. The Celtics and former President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge parted ways, and Brad Stevens was promoted from head coach to front-office leader.
The Celtics then signed Udoka as their next head coach, after having worked as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets between 2012 and 2021.
Boston won the Eastern Conference title in Udoka’s debut season. The Celtics began the season 25-25, but finished 26-6 to earn the No. 2 seed in the East playoffs. Boston swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round before defeating the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat in seven-game series. The Celtics led the Golden State Warriors 2-1 in the NBA Finals, but then lost three straight games to finish the season.
Even Nevertheless, expectations for the 2022-23 season remained high because all of the major players that helped them reach the NBA Finals were returning, including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart. The additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari boosted Boston’s chances of winning its first NBA championship in 15 years.
However, Boston’s preseason has been a mess. Gallinari is gone for the season due to a ruptured ACL, and rising star center Robert Williams III will be out for four to six weeks following an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
Udoka has now been suspended for the rest of the season. Mazzulla will take over a squad that is widely regarded as one of the NBA’s top title hopefuls. The 34-year-old has prior head coaching experience, having led Division II Fairmount State to a 43-17 record and an NCAA tournament trip in his second year.
Mazzulla also played collegiately at West Virginia from 2006 to 2011, when he helped lead the Mountaineers to the 2010 Final Four by scoring 17 points in an Elite Eight upset victory over John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and the Kentucky Wildcats. The guard concluded his career with 700 points and 340 assists.
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