Celtic’s second year head coach, Ime Udoka who was accused of having an affair with a female team staffer and also allegedly guilty of multiple personal conduct violations has been suspended for the 2022-2023 season and can be eventually fired.
As culled in Dailymail’s report, the Celtics’ second-year head coach with a once-sterling reputation, was suspended for all of the upcoming season on Thursday over ‘multiple’ unspecified violations of team rules.
Reports say the 45-year-old had an improper, but consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff, yet that hardly explains why Udoka is being sidelined for 2022-23, and potentially longer. In the team statement naming assistant Joe Mazzulla as interim coach, Boston said Udoka’s future would be determined ‘at a later date.’
The situation is puzzling to many because Boston is sidelining a coach that guided the team to the NBA Finals in his first season over a private, reportedly consensual relationship.
The Celtics were set to open training camp on Tuesday as a logical favorite to reach the Finals once again, and potentially compete for an NBA-record 18th championship.
Instead, Boston is now faced with questions of leadership, while Udoka is fighting to save his once-promising career.
In a released statement, Udoka made a cryptic reference to disappointing his loved ones saying: ”I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down.”
Quick Check on Udoka
Udoka is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association.
He played at three colleges before graduating from Portland State University and ultimately starting his professional career in the NBA’s development league with the Charleston Lowgators.
He represented the Nigeria national team during his playing career.
