Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka ‘used crude language with a female staffer before affair’

The independent law firm investigating Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka reportedly found that he used abusive language in his dialogue with a female subordinate prior to beginning an inappropriate relationship at work with the woman.

Udoka was officially suspended by the team last Thursday for violating team policies after allegedly having a consensual relationship with a female staffer.

Examination findings with the coach revealed that Udoka used language that was considered “of a supervisor in the workplace.”

It likely played a major role in his one-year suspension and contributed to making it particularly difficult for Udoka to be reinstated as Celtics coach in 2023, according to ESPN.

The power dynamics associated with the inappropriate relationship were reportedly the primary finding and policy violation in the law firm’s report commissioned by the Celtics and completed early last week.

At a press conference last week, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck confirmed that the one-year suspension was the result of multiple team policies.

The Celtics are reportedly not going to stand in the way of Udoka from taking up a coaching position elsewhere and teams have been reportedly trying to get a preliminary understanding of the full explanation for the suspension in preparation for an eventual evaluation of him for future employment.

According to the athleticSome members of the Celtics learned about Udoka’s relationship in July, and team leaders were initially led to believe the relationship was consensual.

However, Udoka recently made some unwanted comments to the woman and that prompted the team to start internal interviews.

The suspension was finalized after a closed-door meeting with owners and team president Brad Stevens, which lasted several hours. Stevens and other team managers also met players at the team facility, according to the report.

Joe Mazulla, a 34-year-old who served as a Celtics assistant last year, will become the interim coach for the 2022-23 season.

Udoka apologized to the players, fans and the team for “putting the team in a difficult situation” in a statement released last week.

“I would like to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization and my family for disappointing,” Udoka said in a statement. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will not comment further.’

The chaotic situation at the Celtics escalated on Sept. 23 when Udoka’s fiancée, actress Nia Long, said she was “blinded” by the affair and was there with his old friend just days after moving back to Boston.

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air actress has been with Udoka for over a decade and shares a 10-year-old son, but their family happiness was destroyed this week.

It is believed that Long only discovered the infidelity when the Celtics announced their coach’s suspension.

“The outpouring of love and support from family, friends and the community during this difficult time means so much to me,” Long said through her spokeswoman.

“I ask that my privacy be respected in processing the recent events.

“Most of all, I am a mother and I will continue to focus on my children,” she said.

Celtics reporter Amanda Pflugrad was forced to deny she was the female collaborator involved with Udoka and slammed the relentless speculation on social media surrounding the female collaborator’s identity.

The decision was made to keep the name of the woman involved secret, but many have claimed that this has sparked unfair speculation online and dragged several innocent women into the rumours, and that point has been reiterated by Pflugrad – himself a Celtics employee.

“As a woman of the Celtics organization, it was heartbreaking to watch the past few days unfold,” she wrote on Twitter on Friday.

“It’s disgusting to see the names of those uninvolved in the media, including mine, lying around with such carelessness. This is a step back for women in sport who have worked hard to prove themselves in an industry where they deserve it.”

Alongside the post, she added: “It’s time to speak up about this matter and to my female colleagues, see you and I’m always here #womeninsports.”

Celtics star Marcus Smart described the team’s offseason as “hell” when he revealed that he and his teammates were largely in limbo as the team investigated Udoka.

“It’s been hell for us,” Smart said on Monday’s media day when asked about the consequences of Udoka’s years of suspension. ‘Just surprised. Nobody knows anything, so we’re just like everyone else. It’s confusing.’

The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year directed no attacks on Udoka, who led Boston to the NBA Finals in his first year with the team last season. But Smart did express his frustration with the team’s conditions heading into the new campaign.

“I still love Ime as a person and as a coach,” said Smart.

“I think the hardest part is that it happened so quickly,” he added. “Situations like this unfortunately deprive the players, who have done the work and go out to do their job.”

Meanwhile, Long became a household name with her role in the Fresh Prince of Bel Air as Lisa Wilkes, Will Smith’s girlfriend.

She also starred in Boyz In The Hood, Soul Food and Big Momma’s House.

The beloved actress is also the recipient of three NAACP Image Awards and a Black Reel Award.

When news of the affair spread on social media this week, Long’s fans and famous friends jumped on her defense.

Many rebuked Udoka for his indiscretion and asked how he could have betrayed the actress – a universally popular star and one of the most beautiful actresses of her generation.

“Sending nothing but love to Nia Long.

‘We will not allow a man, who did not recognize the luxury of her presence, to obscure all her beauty and glory.

“Actually, we need a national holiday Nia Long!” tweeted New York Congressman Jamaal Bowmann.

“Nia Long has a 100% Black America approval rating and Ime Udoka is about to get that,” added film producer Van Lathan.

Cheating Nia Long? The end of the day must come because it is NO WAY,” added producer Nina Parker.