If you’re waking up Thursday morning to see reports of Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka allegedly engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staffer that could result in a long suspension, you may want to know what’s going on here.
Udoka took over as the team’s head coach last season and led the franchise all the way to the NBA Finals.
So let’s have a look at the reporting that Udoka had a relationship with someone in the Celtics organization, one that violates franchise rules and that could lead to him being suspended for a while.
Let’s break down what we know so far:
The initial report is that he's facing "disciplinary action"
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski had this to report: A relationship he had — “consensual, intimate” were the words he used — with a woman on the Celtics staff.
The suspension he faces could be long
The word Wojnarowski used was “significant.” Here’s more:
The relationship was considered a violation of the organization’s guidelines, and a decision on the length of that suspension is expected to come as soon as Thursday, sources said. While no final decision has been made, internal discussions have included scenarios that would keep Udoka out for the entirety of the 2022-23 season, sources said.
It isn’t believed that Udoka’s job is in jeopardy, sources said.
Further reporting added it was "improper"
This is from The Athletic’s Shams Charania:
Celtics coach Ime Udoka had an improper intimate and consensual relationship with a female member of the team staff, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. It’s been deemed a violation of franchise’s code of conduct.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 22, 2022
Brad Stevens didn't talk about Udoka's violation of team rules on Wednesday
Brad Stevens tells the Globe Robert Williams and Danilo Gallinari are both undergoing surgery Thursday; describes Williams' injury as "short term." More coming later in the Globe. #Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) September 22, 2022
Udoka has been in a relationship with actress Nia Long for a while
She rooted him on hard during the Celtics’ run last season. Long and Udoka apparently met in 2010 while he was an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, got engaged in 2015. They have a son, Kez.
No word on their current relationship status, but Long did wish him a happy birthday last month on Twitter:
Happy Birthday Udoka 🥳 pic.twitter.com/RB6KQBkWoO
— Nia Long (@NiaLong) August 9, 2022
It sounds like Stevens wouldn't come out of the front office to coach if Udoka's suspended
Woj cites assistant Joe Mazzulla as the possible replacement during the interim.
It's possible he could resign first
Ime Udoka has considered the possibility of resigning, sources told @SInow. Internally, coaches and staff members are bracing for the likelihood that Udoka will be suspended for one year for having a relationship with a female staffer.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) September 22, 2022
