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Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka ‘could face significant suspension for inappropriate relationship with female member of team staff’… less than a month before NBA season kicks off
- Team leaders discuss punishment with possible ‘significant suspension’
- Ime Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his first season as head coach
- Boston opens training camp next Tuesday, season begins October 18
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Just months after leading the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals — and less than a month away from the start of next season — head coach Ima Udoka is reportedly facing disciplinary action.
According to the athleticUdoka had “an inappropriate intimate and consensual relationship” with a female member of the team staff.
ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted that Udoka’s job “will not be jeopardized, but a suspension is imminent and a final decision on that length could come as soon as Thursday.”
Discussions are reportedly underway within the Celtics organization to determine a possible final penalty.
Wojnarowski’s report says a “significant suspension” could be in order.
According to the Boston Globes Adam HimmelsbachUdoka faces a suspension for violating the team rules.
His sources said a discipline might be decided soon, but did not reveal what Udoka was specifically punished for.
Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka could be suspended just days before the start of this year’s NBA season for violating team rules with an undisclosed penalty
Udoka was hired on his first head coaching appearance last year, taking 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 amassed a 51-31 record and led the Celtics to the Atlantic Division title in the regular season.
Udoka then helped lead Boston all the way to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. There, they fell in six games for the Golden State Warriors.
Prior to coaching the Celtics, Udoka spent eight seasons as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under head coach Gregg Popovich.
With the Spurs, he won an NBA title during the 2014 season.
Udoka left San Antonio in 2019 and moved to 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 then hired as head coach of the Celtics, becoming the fifth Black head coach in the team’s history.
The Celtics are holding a media day on Monday before opening training camp on Tuesday. Their first preseason game is at home against the Charlotte Hornets on October 2.
Boston opens their regular season slate at home against the 76ers on October 18.