The Boston Celtics are hoping to return to the NBA Finals yet again this season, but it’s unclear who will lead Jayson Tatum and company to the big stage. Multiple reports suggest Boston Celtics Head Coach Ime Udoka will receive disciplinary action after violating team guidelines.
Details regarding the exact violation remain unclear, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski informs fans that Udoka engaged in “an intimate relationship with a female member of the franchise’s staff.” As a result, the suspension could be as long as the entire 2022-2023 NBA season.
In the absence of Udoka, Joe Mazzulla is expected to become the team’s interim coach. Will Hardy, the team’s top assistant during the 2021-2022 NBA season, was in line to earn the position, but left for a permanent head coaching position with the Utah Jazz.
Udoka was named the team’s head coach prior to the 2021-2022 NBA season as former head coach Brad Stevens transitioned into a managerial role. In his first season, the Celtics closed the season with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Moreover, Boston ended the season with a 28-7 stretch and advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in more than a decade.
Udoka nor the Boston Celtics have issued a statement regarding the matter. However, Wojnarowski reports that a final decision could be made within the next 24-72 hours.
