ESPN REPORT: Details on Joe Mazzulla suspension.
Due to his involvement in a romantic relationship with a female employee of the team, Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka is probably going to be suspended for the whole 2022–2023 season, sources said ESPN on Thursday.
The relationship is thought to have violated the organization’s policies, and Udoka’s recommended punishment is essentially unheard of for an NBA head coach who is currently in office. It might be official announcement as early as Thursday.
ESPN was informed by insiders that Boston’s interim coach for the upcoming season will probably be assistant coach Joe Mazzulla.
Will Hardy, Udoka’s top assistant coach, departed the team in June to take a coaching position with the Utah Jazz.
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After finishing his NBA playing career, Udoka worked as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets until joining the Celtics in the summer.
As coach, he took Brad Stevens’ place. After Danny Ainge, the previous president of basketball operations for Boston, decided to depart the company, Stevens went up to take over that role.
Udoka led the Boston Celtics to a stunning comeback in his first season as coach, going from a late-January record below.500 to a 28-7 record during the final 35 games of the season. Then, for the first time in twelve years, they made an incredible run through the Eastern Conference playoffs and made it to the NBA Finals.
Udoka is the first head coach since Nick Nurse in 2019 to make it to the NBA Finals in his first season, and he is the sixth coach in the previous 25 years to do it.
Additionally, he made history by becoming the first rookie coach to win three Game 7s in his first postseason, according to research from ESPN Stats & Information. Before losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals, Udoka guided Boston to victory against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the Miami Heat in the East finals, requiring seven games each.
Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka is likely to be punished for the entirety of the 2022–2023 season due to his involvement in a romantic relationship with a female team employee, sources said ESPN on Thursday.
It is believed that the relationship went beyond the organization’s standards, and Udoka’s suggested penalty is practically unprecedented for a head coach in the NBA at the moment. An official announcement could come as soon as Thursday.
Insiders told ESPN that assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will likely be Boston’s interim coach for the upcoming season.
Udoka’s best assistant coach, Will Hardy, left the team in June to become a coach with the Utah Jazz.
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Udoka joined the Boston Celtics in the summer after serving as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Antonio Spurs following his playing career in the NBA.
He replaced Brad Stevens as coach. Stevens ascended to the position of president of basketball operations for Boston following the departure of his predecessor, Danny Ainge.
In his first season as coach, Udoka guided the Boston Celtics to an incredible turnaround, going from a sub.500 record in late January to a 28-7 record in the last 35 games of the campaign. They then went on an amazing run through the Eastern Conference playoffs and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in twelve years.
Udoka is the sixth head coach in the last 25 years to reach the NBA Finals in his debut season, and he is the first head coach to accomplish it since Nick Nurse in 2019.
According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, he also created history by being the first rookie coach to win three Game 7s in his first postseason. Udoka led Boston to victories over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the Miami Heat in the East finals, both of which needed seven games, before the team lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals.
