Ime Udoka Passed Unwanted Comments On Female Staffer
Questions remained regarding the timing and severity of the penalty as information about the Celtics’ choice to suspend coach Ime Udoka for the rest of the 2022–23 season for what was formally referred to as “violations of team policies” emerged.
Shams Charania of The Athletic later on Thursday provided some further information regarding Udoka’s alleged relationship with a female employee of the Celtics.
Despite #Celtics knowing about Ime Udoka affair since July, Ime didn't his tell longtime GF & mom to his child, Nia Long, until a few days ago.
Nia moved to Boston 2 wks ago w/ their 10 yr old, despite Ime knowing this was about to blow. They've been looking for houses. #NBA
— michael j. babcock (@mikejbabcock) September 23, 2022
Ime Udoka Passed Unwanted Comments On The female Staffer
On Thursday, accusations of the controversy surfaced, claiming that the coach had an intimate relationship with a female member of the Celtics staff. The team, according to The Athletic, learned about the relationship back in July, and they only got involved after Udoka made “unwanted comments” to the woman.
https://twitter.com/emeckejr/status/1573336479337943041?s=20&t=6kJAwTH4rjpLQgO5uQ-Yfgnbsp;
According to Charania, members of the Celtics organization learned of the connection in July, and Udoka and the woman both told Boston’s management that the union was amicable. However, according to Charania, the woman recently claimed that Udoka made inappropriate statements to her, which prompted the team to conduct a series of internal interviews.
The decision to suspend Udoka for the entire season was decided after the team conducted a series of internal interviews and met behind closed doors on Thursday with the team owners and president Brad Stevens (who, notably, served as the team’s last head coach).
The important part now is how did the Ime Udoka affair go from “consensual” to “unwanted advances” to being reported and that is something we do not know https://t.co/DvCe1HCRzK
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) September 23, 2022
Udoka Accepted The Team’s Ruling
In a statement he released Thursday night, He accepted the team’s ruling.
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.
🚨It's official: Ime Udoka has been suspended for the ENTIRE season.
"The Udoka case is more complex than a staff affair, when they find out who the woman involved is, there will be a major stir" @bsotv #imeudoka #udoka #nba #sports #sport #news pic.twitter.com/rddNWXRh7f
— F.M NEWS (@fmnews__) September 23, 2022
According to Wojnarowski, with Udoka’s ban now in place, assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will serve as the team’s acting head coach. Mazzulla, one of Boston’s top coaches, has previously coached the Summer League squad of the organization but has never held a head coaching position in the NBA.
Now that training camp has begun, the Celtics will have a short turnaround until the start of the season on September 27. Boston will face the 76ers home on October 18 to open the 2022–23 season.
Nia Long blindsided by Ime Udoka affair, moved only two weeks ago to Boston, where she was house hunting with the Celtics coach. https://t.co/az9VsYbza2
— Austin Laymance (@JALaymance) September 23, 2022
FOR MORE NBA UPDATES –
