The team cited violations of team policies in its statement. Sources previously told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Udoka had an intimate relationship with a female member of the franchise’s staff. The suspension is effective immediately and a decision on Udoka’s future with the organization will be made at a later date, the team said. “I want to apologize to our players, our fans, the entire Celtics organization and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said in a statement to ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I regret putting the team in this difficult situation and accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for all involved, I will have no further comment.”

The season break is largely unprecedented for a sitting NBA coach. The Celtics have made assistant coach Joe Mazzulla the interim coach, sources told Wojnarowski. Udoka’s top assistant coach, Will Hardy, left the team in June to become the coach of the Utah Jazz. Udoka joined the Celtics last summer after spending time with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach following his NBA career. He replaced Brad Stevens as head coach. Stevens moved upstairs to become Boston’s president of basketball operations after his predecessor in that job, Danny Ainge, opted to leave the organization. In his first season as head coach, Udoka oversaw a remarkable turnaround in Boston, one that saw the Celtics go from below .500 in late January to closing the season with a 28-7 record over their final 35 games. They then put together an impressive run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years. Udoka is the fifth coach in the last 25 years to reach the NBA Finals in his first season as a head coach and the first since Nick Nurse in 2019. He also became the first rookie coach to win multiple 7 games in his first season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Udoka led Boston to victories over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games before the Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals in six games. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.


title: “Boston Celtics Fire Coach Ime Udoka For 2022 23 Season Effective Immediately " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Vickie Puckett”


The team cited violations of team policies in its statement. Sources previously told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Udoka had an intimate relationship with a female member of the franchise’s staff. The suspension is effective immediately and a decision on Udoka’s future with the organization will be made at a later date, the team said. “I want to apologize to our players, our fans, the entire Celtics organization and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said in a statement to ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I regret putting the team in this difficult situation and accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for all involved, I will have no further comment.”

The season break is largely unprecedented for a sitting NBA coach. The Celtics have made assistant coach Joe Mazzulla the interim coach, sources told Wojnarowski. Udoka’s top assistant coach, Will Hardy, left the team in June to become the coach of the Utah Jazz. Udoka joined the Celtics last summer after spending time with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach following his NBA career. He replaced Brad Stevens as head coach. Stevens moved upstairs to become Boston’s president of basketball operations after his predecessor in that job, Danny Ainge, opted to leave the organization. In his first season as head coach, Udoka oversaw a remarkable turnaround in Boston, one that saw the Celtics go from below .500 in late January to closing the season with a 28-7 record over their final 35 games. They then put together an impressive run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years. Udoka is the fifth coach in the last 25 years to reach the NBA Finals in his first season as a head coach and the first since Nick Nurse in 2019. He also became the first rookie coach to win multiple 7 games in his first season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Udoka led Boston to victories over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games before the Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals in six games. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.