It was around this time last year, that the Boston Celtics started to emerge as a potential contender for the championship. They were 19-21 at one point in January, but then started to turn things around and entered the All-Star break with a 34-26 record.
The wins kept coming after the break and the season would end with a trip to the NBA Finals. The mastermind behind this was, of course, Ime Udoka and it looked like the start of a very successful partnership. It wasn’t to be though as Udoka violated team guidelines and was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season.
His assistant Joe Mazzulla took over as the interim but the Celtics’ excellent season led to him recently being announced as their permanent head coach. It officially brought an end to Udoka’s time with the team but the players still have a lot of love for him, with Jayson Tatum saying Ime was his favorite coach.
“Probably my most favorite coach I’ve had,”
– Jayson Tatum on Ime Udoka pic.twitter.com/ErRt3haxsQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 18, 2023
NBA fans reacted to Tatum saying this right after Mazzulla permanently got the job.
https://twitter.com/JF_Clips/status/1627077215115681792
Bro if Tatum wants out of Boston at any point of his career he’s definitely going to try to reunite with Ime
— pain (@CelticsWins) February 18, 2023
Joe Mazzulla: pic.twitter.com/UAeyoM66Gl
— Brian (@byysportz) February 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/nrs237/status/1627077194806878210
I’m sorry but Darvin can go, bring in Udoka
— LAKESHOW (@awholenewcity) February 18, 2023
Damn right after Mazulla got extended 😬😬
— Herm (@bigherm_24) February 18, 2023
Joe Mazulla seeing this pic.twitter.com/FTTbaC9dY7
— Bipolar Pelicans Fan (@Happypelsfan) February 18, 2023
Wish he didn’t say this…
— Raging Celtics ☘️😤 (@RagingCeltics) February 18, 2023
Coach K reading this pic.twitter.com/cBpzb4243p
— Mitch (@MitchEllison1) February 18, 2023
This is crazy cuz he has a new coach rn and his first coach is the GM of the Celtics now 😭😭
— ty 🇹🇹🇨🇦 (@ajumpm23) February 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/penndavis3/status/1627077700258254855
Doing Joe dirty
— Betbasics (@betbasics) February 18, 2023
Joe Mazzulla reading this pic.twitter.com/NJh1c37MNY
— 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖘𝖊 💎 (@PacersWRLD) February 18, 2023
https://twitter.com/basketwrld1/status/1627077157825679360
Saying that about a different coach than you currently have is kinda wild ngl
— DRP ™ (@DrayRimPressure) February 18, 2023
Way to shit on your current coach doing a good job and not being horny lol
— . (@kendrel98) February 18, 2023
Yeah this can’t be good for anyone involved
— Ethical Hoops🏆 (only takes Ws) (@EthicalHoopz) February 18, 2023
— ☘ (@tr2385) February 18, 2023
Joe Mazzulla be like: pic.twitter.com/kEh2azngmh
— Spartan Locks 🛡️ (@spartan_locks) February 19, 2023
He done thru Coach Mazulla unda tha busss! Smmfh
— Drew (@DrewV2323) February 19, 2023
Tatum did make it clear that he has a great relationship with and has great respect for Mazzulla, but that his relationship with Udoka was just different. It isn’t an ideal thing to say in this situation but we always want the superstars to be honest and Tatum is being just that here.
Stephen A. Smith Was Not Happy With How The Ime Udoka Situation Was Handled
Quite a few individuals did come to Udoka’s defense after this situation panned out. While no one justified what he did, the fact that this whole saga became so public, was worrying for many.
Nia Long said the Celtics made her family business public and she couldn’t understand why, while Stephen A. Smith took it a step further. He compared the situation to police brutality, as he pointed to the inconsistency in the way it was handled. Smith claimed that Udoka’s personal business was put out there and that it didn’t happen to non-black individuals in the past. He might have a point, but all parties involved have no option but to just move on at this point.
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