Ime Udoka Remarks, “Job Not Finished” About Stay In Boston
Saturday night found Ime Udoka returning to the Boston Garden.
This is the same guy who, in his first season on the bench, guided the Celtics to the 2022 NBA Finals. However, he was suspended the next season for “violations of team policies” (many reports claim he had an inappropriate intimate relationship with a Celtics staff member, which prompted her to file complaints about Ime Udoka with the organization). In the end, Joe Mazzulla replaced Ime Udoka and went on to join the Rockets.
It was that awkward past that surfaced again with his homecoming. Here is something he said pregame regarding his time in Boston, via Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“Work is not yet complete. In just a year, developed a number of relationships, and it goes without saying that you would want the opportunity to continue it with a group with whom you feel you can contribute and develop. Thus, disappointing the public.”
“I spoke about the athletes and the bonds I forged with them, the coaches who accompanied me, and then everyone else who was touched by it. In my opinion, disappointing some individuals is the biggest thing I can think of in general. However, we’ve discussed it and moved over it since I saw a lot of these folks over the summer and we communicate occasionally.”
One point of contention arose from players who believed they were unaware of their coach’s suspension, which came only a few days before training camp began.
In terms of the match, Boston won 145-113. Before being removed from the game, Jaylen Brown scored 32 points and Jayson Tatum scored 27. Up until around the middle of the second quarter, Boston had the upper hand, and that was the end of the game.
