Getty Ime Udoka, Boston Celtics
As we head into a new NBA season, the Boston Celtics will be without head coach Ime Udoka following his suspension for breaching organizational policy.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said he believed that Udoka was suspended but not fired because the Brooklyn Nets would have quickly moved to hire Udoka, the coach who took Boston to the NBA Finals.
“I believe that part of the reason [Ime Udoka] was suspended, but not fired is because the Boston Celtics did not want him to end up in Brooklyn… The Nets would have fired Steve Nash and brought [Udoka] back & he would be the coach.”
“I believe that part of the reason [Udoka] was suspended but not fired is that the Boston Celtics did not want him to end up in Brooklyn,” Smith on the October 18 episode of “First Take.” And because there was nothing that was put out there that said it was a crime, I believe that if Ime Udoka had been fired by the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets would have fired Steve Nash and brought Udoka back, and he would be the coach of the Brooklyn Nets right now.”
As things currently stand, Udoka is suspended for the entire season but will have multiple years left to run on his contract with the franchise and could retake the reins next summer.
Celtics Have Yet to Make a Decision on Udoka’s Future
Shortly after news broke of Udoka’s suspension, the Celtics issued a press release noting the length of Udoka’s suspension and that no decision had been made on his long-term future with the franchise.
“The Boston Celtics announced today that the team has suspended Head Coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies. A decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date. The suspension takes effect immediately,” the September 23 press release stated.
It seems Boston is just as likely to move on from Udoka as it is to allow him to return to his coaching duties next season.
One NBA reporter, Ethan Strauss, wrote in his Substack column on September 23 that one agent told him: “He’s done,” adding that “many NBA insiders now see the situation” that way. And a September 30 ESPN story said an investigation’s “findings contribute to what is likely a difficult pathway back to his reinstatement as Celtics coach in 2023, sources say.”
Jayson Tatum Found Out Via Twitter
Despite being the Celtics’ franchise cornerstone, and one of the most talented forwards in the NBA, Jayson Tatum said he found out about Udoka’s suspension in the same manner as most of the teams’ fans — via Twitter.
“I guess I feel like everybody else. It’s a lot to process. Unexpected,” Tatum said. “If you read the statement and watch the press conference, apparently there are a lot of things they can’t speak about. I think I’m in the same boat, as I don’t know. So, it’s hard to answer if things were handled in the right way, because I don’t know. … S***, I found out on Twitter like everybody else.
Tatum’s shocking revelation shows how seriously the organization took the investigation, commissioning an independent law firm to conduct a probe. The firm delivered its findings in late September.
Udoka’s suspension ends June 30, 2023. In the meantime, Joe Mazzulla will be interim head coach. He has a 1-0 record after the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117 in the season opener on October 18.