NEWS NOW: The Celtics have suspended an ex-Nigerian basketball player for the whole season.
The Boston Celtics have suspended head coach and former D’Tigers forward Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 NBA season after he began dating a female staff member
Ezoic Udoka, 45, was suspended for “violations of team policies” after leading the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his first season as head coach earlier this year.
The team also stated that a decision on Udoka’s future beyond 2022-23 will be taken at a later date
Udoka, 45, was suspended for “violations of team policies” after leading the Celtics to the NBA Finals earlier this year in his first season as head coach.
The team also stated that a decision on Udoka’s future after 2022-23 will be taken at a later time.
Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will be promoted to interim head coach.
Reacting to his suspension Udoka wrote in a statement:”I want to apologise to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organisation and my family for letting them down.
“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.”
After a seven-year NBA playing career, Udoka worked as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets until taking over as coach of the Boston Celtics in June 2021.
The Celtics won 28 of their final 35 games in the regular season to reach the play-offs and went on to make the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years, losing 4-2 against the Golden State Warriors.
Ezoic
Udoka led Nigeria in scoring, assists, and steals at the 2006 FIBA World Championships.
He has competed for Nigeria in the FIBA Africa Championships in 2005 and 2011, collecting a bronze medal in both tournaments.
He worked as an assistant coach for USA Basketball under Gregg Popovich, the Spurs’ head coach.
His involvement as a coach for the 2019 FIBA World Cup squad allowed him to form ties with Celtics players Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, all of whom campaigned for his employment as the new head coach in Boston.
In addition, Udoka served as a coach for Team USA under Popovich in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
