Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka “could face a significant suspension” for an inappropriate relationship with a female team member … less than a month before the NBA season begins
- Team leaders discuss punishment with a possible ‘significant suspension’
- Ime Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his first season as head coach
- Boston opens the training camp next Tuesday, the season starts on October 18th
Just months after leading the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals — and less than a month before the start of next season — head coach Ima Udoka is reportedly facing disciplinary action.
Corresponding the athleteUdoka had “an improperly intimate and consensual relationship” with a female member of the team’s staff.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that Udoka’s job “is not in danger, but there is a risk of suspension and a final decision of this length could come as early as Thursday.”
Discussions are reported to be ongoing within the Celtics organization to set a possible final punishment.
Wojnarowski’s report says a “substantial suspension” may be appropriate.
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Udoka faces a ban for violating team rules.
His sources said that discipline could potentially be decided soon, but did not reveal what Udoka was specifically punished for.
Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka could be suspended with a penalty yet to be determined days before the start of this year’s NBA season for violating team rules
Udoka was hired for his debut as head coach last year, guiding Boston to the NBA Finals
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Boston Celtics for comment.
Udoka was named head coach of the Boston Celtics at the start of the 2021-22 season after Brad Stevens was promoted to president of basketball operations.
In his first season as head coach, Udoka compiled a 51-31 record and led the Celtics to a regular-season Atlantic Division title.
Udoka then helped lead Boston to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. There they fell in six games against the Golden State Warriors.
Before coaching with the Celtics, Udoka spent eight seasons as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under head coach Gregg Popovich.
He won an NBA title with the Spurs in 2014.
Udoka left San Antonio in 2019 for the Philadelphia 76ers. The following season he became an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets.
Before joining Boston, Udoka won a ring as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs
He was subsequently hired as the Celtics’ head coach, becoming the fifth black head coach in team history.
The Celtics will hold a media day on Monday before opening training camp on Tuesday. Their first preseason game is October 2 at home against the Charlotte Hornets.
Boston opens its regular season at home against the 76ers on October 18.
