Former Nigerian-born Boston Celtics head coach, and Nigeria’s ex-international basketball star, Ime Udoka, is reportedly drawing new interest from several teams in the NBA.
Boston suspended Udoka in September amid an on-going sexual misconduct investigation and has since parted ways with the coach.
Bulpett stated the Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets could take a serious look at Udoka in the offseason. The Raptors and current head coach Nick Nurse may be destined for a mutual separation. In turn, the Rockets may consider hiring Nurse if he becomes available, but Bulpett reported Udoka is also on Houston’s radar.
Udoka was an accomplished assistant before becoming the head coach for the first time with the Celtics prior to the 2021-22 season. He helped Boston build a formidable defense on top of a notorious penchant for tough love.
Boston’s suspension of Udoka evidently hasn’t permanently damaged his standing in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets nearly hired the Oregon native in November before changing tact last minute. San Antonio head coach Greg Popovich, whom Udoka both played for and worked alongside as an assistant, also expressed support for Udoka ahead of Sunday’s game between the Celtics and Spurs.
“Ime was and is and always will be a great friend,” Popovich said. “So you can imagine that I was deeply disappointed and hurt for him, for everybody involved. It’s a difficult situation for him, and my hope is that he will bounce back and find a home.”
The Celtics tapped 34-year-old Joe Mazzulla when the club suspended Udoka in September. Boston has since dropped the interim label, and Mazzulla is the permanent coach for the foreseeable future. Already his club has surpassed last season’s win total with more regular season games left to play.
