The crew added {that a} choice on Udoka’s future with the Celtics will probably be made at a later date. His suspension was efficient instantly.
In keeping with ESPN, The Athletic and the Boston Globe, Udoka had a consensual relationship with a feminine member of the crew’s workers.
“I’m sorry for placing the crew on this tough scenario, and I settle for the crew’s choice,” Udoka stated to ESPN in an announcement by which he apologized to the gamers, followers, group and his household.
CNN has reached out to the Celtics for additional remark.
On Friday, Celtics proprietor Wycliffe “Wyc” Grousbeck and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens spoke with the media to debate Udoka’s suspension.
Grousbeck defined that the choice to suspended Udoka was taken after the group introduced in a “revered legislation agency to conduct an neutral investigation” having discovered concerning the allegations over the summer time.
Grousbeck stated he felt the season-long suspension — which is able to include a “vital monetary penalty,” based on the proprietor — is “well-warranted and applicable and backed by substantial analysis and info.”
He added: “Ime has personally advised me in a personal dialog, simply the overall theme was — I might say — acceptance and appreciation for the way this has been dealt with.”
Grousbeck additionally defined that the gamers are “very involved” after discussions with them. “It isn’t a welcome growth, however additionally they have, I felt, power, focus, dedication and drive to essentially accomplish nice issues this season.”
Stevens choked up when speaking concerning the affect the information has had on ladies within the group, saying: “We have now loads of gifted ladies in our group.
“I assumed yesterday was actually laborious on them. No one can management Twitter hypothesis — rampant bulls**t. We as a company have a accountability to verify we assist them now as a result of lots of people have been dragged unfairly.”
Gary Washburn, nationwide basketball author for the Boston Globe, advised John Berman and Brianna Keilar on CNN’s New Day that Udoka could by no means coach the Celtics once more.
“This might have been one thing that was in his contract,” Washburn stated. “You recognize, ‘You are not capable of have relationships with members of the organizations, particularly those that are underneath you.’ So, sadly, for coach Udoka, he broke these legal guidelines, broke these guidelines and now he isn’t out of a job, however he is as near out of a job as he can get.
“He’ll be suspended for a 12 months and the group didn’t promise he’ll be again in 2023-24. They stated they’re going to assessment it then, so he could by no means coach the Boston Celtics once more.”
The Celtics begin their season on October 18 towards the Philadelphia 76ers on the TD Backyard in Boston. NBA coaching camps open subsequent week with the primary preseason video games scheduled for every week from Friday.
CNN’s Jacob Lev and Homero De la Fuente contributed to this report.
