Rockets’ Ime Udoka ‘to pay $32,500 a month in child support to Nia Long’ for ex-couple’s 12-year-old son, judge rules, one year after his affair with Celtics staffer led to his exit in Boston
- Long will spend most of his parenting time with their son Kez
- The actress and Udoka were engaged until 2022 when his affair came to light
- Udoka was a candidate for Coach of the Year in Boston until his suspension and firing
Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka will reportedly have to pay ex-partner Nia Long $32,500 a month in child support for their son, Kez, following their highly publicized split in 2022.
TMZ reports this that the actress will get the majority of parenting time, although the two will retain joint custody.
The website also reports that Udoka earns significantly more than the former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actress, citing court filings claiming he has $400,000 in net monthly disposable income, compared to her $20,000. Shortening the custody time is to Long’s advantage because Udoka is on the road coaching for much of the NBA season, which runs from fall to late spring.
The 53-year-old actress filed for full custody in August, claiming the 46-year-old former NBA player was failing in his duty to pay child support. She reportedly asked the judge to give him a reasonable opportunity to visit his son as long as it was “consistent with the best interests of the child.”
The actress and Udoka were engaged until 2022, when it emerged that the now-former Boston Celtics Coach had an inappropriate relationship with a colleague, previously revealed as team services manager Kathleen Nimmo Lynch by DailyMail.com.
Ime Udoka was a candidate for Coach of the Year in Boston, but now coaches in Houston
Long and the ex-couple’s son, Kez, moved back to Los Angeles after Udoka was suspended
Udoka was suspended by the Celtics for the entire 2022-2023 season for the inappropriate relationship, which ultimately cost him his job. Joe Mazzulla got the job permanently in February.
In November, Long spoke out about the controversy with rapper Jeezy, hinting that the affair wasn’t the only reason their engagement ended.
“I recently had a very public breakup,” Long, 53, said on Jeezy’s YouTube channel.
“It was a wake-up call for me in terms of, ‘Okay, you’re going to do this on your own and you’re going to be okay, and you don’t have to worry about what anyone thinks and what to do.’ participation.”
‘The relationship was rocky for a long time. I don’t believe anyone else can tear someone apart.”
She also spoke about the toll the ordeal had on her eldest son Massai, 22, from a previous marriage.
“I think my oldest son saw me trying to keep the family together,” she added.
DailyMail.com revealed that the Celtics employee who had an affair with Udoka is team services manager Kathleen Nimmo Lynch
“But I had to get to a place where loving myself was bigger and more important than saving anyone else.”
Despite his reputation in tatters, it didn’t take long for Udoka to return to the NBA.
The Houston Rockets announced the 46-year-old defensive guru as their newest head coach in April, signing him to a four-year contract worth $28.5 million.
Udoka, who was an NBA player before he started coaching, has helped resurrect the Rockets, who are now 20-22 after finishing just 22-60 last season.