Nia Long, the fiancée of disgraced Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, has spoken publicly for the first time in the wake of the cheating scandal that rocked the NBA, slamming the team's handling of the situation.
Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in the summer, but he has been suspended by the team in September for the whole 2022/23 season after it emerged he had an inappropriate, but consensual, relationship with a female member of staff, breaking team rules. Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla is in interim charge.
Long, an actress best known for her roles in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Empire, got engaged to Udoka in 2015 and they have an 11-year-old son together.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she opened up on the "heartbreak" and "devastation" caused by the situation, and she believes the Celtics' handling of the episode has made it worse for her and her family.
"I went home to be with my son, and that was what was most important to me because he was not having an easy time,” she said.
"I think the most heartbreaking thing about all of this was seeing my son’s face when the Boston Celtics organisation decided to make a very private situation public.
“It was devastating, and it still is. He still has moments where it’s not easy for him. If you’re in the business of protecting women – I’m sorry, no one from the Celtics organisation has even called to see if I’m OK, to see if my children are OK. It’s very disappointing.
“I literally felt like my heart had jumped out of my body. And then what I found was this tribe of women and men who were standing up for me in a way that felt like I was in this bubble of protection, and that was very comforting.”
After being suspended, Udoka issued an apology via ESPN to his family, his players and his organisation "for letting them down".
He added: "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."
Udoka, who had a 12-year career as a journeyman player across the world, is expected to return to the team at the end of his suspension, but it appears they are not missing him early in the season, leading the Eastern Conference with an 18-4 record.
The 45-year-old was reportedly close to being named the Brooklyn Nets head coach last month after Steve Nash's firing, but an outcry from fans led to Jacque Vaughn getting the job instead.
Mirror Sport has contacted Boston Celtics for comment on the story.
