Celtics coach and former Kings forward Ime Udoka in trouble for improper relationship
Former Kings forward Ime Udoka played a major role in the most memorable comeback in team history during his lone season in Sacramento.
Now, as head coach of the Boston Celtics, Udoka is reportedly facing disciplinary action for an inappropriate relationship with a female member of the organization’s staff.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported late Wednesday night Udoka had an improper intimate and consensual relationship with a female staffer that has been deemed a violation of the franchise’s code of conduct. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Udoka is facing what could be a lengthy suspension with a decision expected as soon as Thursday.
ESPN reported Udoka’s job is not believed to be in jeopardy, but internal discussions have included the possibility of Udoka being suspended for the entire 2022-23 season.
Udoka, 45, was named head coach of the Celtics last summer after serving as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. He led the Celtics to the NBA Finals in his first season before falling in six games to the Golden State Warriors.
Udoka, a Portland native, played for Utah State University Eastern, University of San Francisco and Portland State before going undrafted in 2000. He started his professional career in the National Basketball Development League before spending seven seasons in the NBA.
Udoka played for the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Spurs and Kings. He had his best season with the Blazers in 2006-07, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
Udoka appeared in 69 games for the Kings in 2009-10 after signing with Sacramento as a free agent. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game.
Udoka played a big part in an incredible comeback when the Kings stormed back from a 35-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls 102-98 on Dec. 21, 2009. The Bulls led 79-44 in the third quarter, but Udoka scored 15 of his 17 points in the fourth to spark Sacramento’s comeback.
Udoka made back-to-back 3-pointers to cut Chicago’s lead to four with 2:28 remaining. Tyreke Evans, the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year, took it from there, scoring nine points in a span of less than two minutes to give Sacramento the lead.
It was the second-biggest comeback in NBA history, trailing only the Utah Jazz, which rallied from a 36-point deficit to beat the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 27, 1996.
This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 12:11 AM.
