Ime Udoka, the Boston Celtics’ head coach, has been suspended for the entire NBA season due to infractions of team
standards, the organization said Thursday night.
The franchise said that a decision on Udoka’s future with the Celtics would be made at a later date. His suspension
became effective immediately.
According to ESPN, The Athletic, and the Boston Globe, Udoka had a consensual relationship with a female team
staff member.
“I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision,” Udoka told ESPN in a
statement. He also apologized to the players, fans, the organization, and his family.
CNN has reached out to the Celtics for additional comment.
Udoka succeeded Brad Stevens as the team’s head coach ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season, leading the Celtics to
their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010, when they were defeated 4-2 by the Golden State Warriors.
On Friday, Celtics owner Wycliffe “Wyc” Grousbeck and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens spoke to the
media about Udoka’s ban.
Grousbeck noted that the decision to suspend Udoka came after the organization hired a “respected law firm to
conduct an impartial investigation” after learning about the claims over the summer.
Grousbeck stated that he believes the season-long suspension, which would result in a “significant financial penalty,”
is “well-warranted and appropriate, and backed by substantial research and facts.”
He said: “Ime has personally told me in a private conversation, just the general theme was – I’d say – acceptance and
appreciation for how this has been handled.”
Grousbeck also stated that the players are “very concerned” following meetings with them. “It is not a welcome
development, but they also have, I felt, energy, focus, commitment and drive to really accomplish great things this
season.”
Stevens cried up as she discussed the impact the news has had on women in the business, stating, “We have a lot of
talented women in our group.
“I thought yesterday was especially hard for them. Nobody can control Twitter conjecture, which is rampant bulls**t.
We, as an organization, have a responsibility to ensure that we support them today because many people have been
unfairly dragged.
