Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was announced to have been suspended for an indefinite amount of time (as of this writing) regarding a violation of the team’s personal conduct policy, throwing into question who might be roaming the sidelines for the Cs during the 2022-23 season.
Udoka is facing potential disciplinary action of up to a year suspension for his role in a ‘consensual, intimate relationship’ with a woman who is a member of the franchise’s staff, ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported in a bombshell announcement late Wednesday night.
While Udoka isn’t expected to be released by the organization for stepping out on his wife Nia Long with a member of the organization, there could be longstanding effects on the team’s progress. Boston just went to the NBA Finals in his first season and could now see that momentum stopped almost completely if someone like Celtics assistant Joe Mazzulla, who will likely be a candidate for an interim head coaching role, can’t right the ship after a serious detour.
The story sent shockwaves throughout NBA Twitter, and one Boston Celtics analyst, Dan Greenberg, openly questioned–in what we believe/hope was a joking manner–if this situation is what prompted President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens to visit the consensus projected No. 1 overall 2023 pick Victor Wembanyama overseas:
Is this why Brad went to watch Wembanyama?
— Dan Greenberg (@StoolGreenie) September 22, 2022
The Ime Udoka scandal takes the cake for worst development of the offseason for the Boston Celtics
Things seemed so innocent when just last week the biggest question mark heading into the 2022-23 NBA season for the Boston Celtics was whether or not the team was well-equipped enough to handle Danilo Gallinari potentially being out for the year with a torn ACL.
When Robert Williams III went down, the panic button was definitely within reason to smash. Now, with this Ime Udoka development, the Cs are in full-blown crisis mode as they prepare to face media day with plenty of fodder for the press to chew on and try to repeat as east champions without the primary reason why Boston was able to get over the hump in 2021-22.