It was revealed that the Boston Celtics female staffer who had an alleged affair with coach Ime Udoka, helped make his travel arrangements and sometimes did the same for his fiancee Nia Long, per multiple reports.
Last week, Udoka was suspended for the 2022-23 season for violating the team policy due to his inappropriate and consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff.
The woman also reportedly helped arrange Long’s move to Boston, and according to a TMZ report, she knows who the staffer is. Sources had told the outlet that her duties included managing travel for the coach and his actress fiancee to attend home games and away fixtures.
The Celtics said they were made aware of the situation involving their head coach over the summer and followed it up by conducting a thorough investigation. The team management said that no one else, including the woman involved, was disciplined or expected to have some action taken against them. The identity of the staffer has not been revealed.
Celtics Say Ime Udoka’s Long-Term Future Beyond The Season Is Undecided
There have been questions about whether Udoka will return to his position after the conclusion of his season-long suspension. Adding more uncertainty to the news was what the management said in their official statement:
“The Boston Celtics announced today that the team has suspended Head Coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies,” the team-provided statement read. “A decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date. The suspension takes effect immediately.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 23, 2022
In the meantime, assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will take over Udoka’s role. He is regarded as one of Boston’s top assistants but has never held a coaching role in the NBA. He previously coached the franchise’s summer league outfit.
The team kicks off their training camp starting September 27 and will lock horns against the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener at home on October 18.
