Celtics' Ime Udoka Suspended for 2022-23 Season Following Alleged Affair with Staffer

Ime Udoka, the head coach of the Boston Celtics, has been suspended for the entire season for violating team policies. His future with the team will be decided at a later time.

Boston Celtics @celtics

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Udoka apologized to his teammates, the Celtics organization, and his family for letting them down. I accept the team's decision and apologize for putting the team in this situation. I will not have any further comments out of respect for everyone.

The Celtics will have an interim head coach this season, according to a report.

Udoka was possibly in line for a significant suspension after an alleged violation of organizational guidelines.

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn

ESPN Sources: Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka is facing possible disciplinary action – including a significant suspension – for an unspecified violation of organizational guidelines. Discussions are ongoing within the Celtics on a final determination. pic.twitter.com/1QZb0k326F

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported that Udoka had a consensual relationship with a female Celtics staffer.

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania

Celtics coach Ime Udoka had an improper intimate and consensual relationship with a female member of the team staff, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. It’s been deemed a violation of franchise’s code of conduct.

Chris Haynes said that Udoka has no plans to step down. There is no guarantee that Udoka will return to the franchise after the 2022-23 season, according to Wojnarowski.

Udoka was part of a leadership change in the Celtics. Brad Stevens was elevated to the lead front office role after Danny Ainge left the Celtics.

The Celtics hired Udoka, who was an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

The Eastern Conference champion is Boston. The Celtics finished second in the East playoffs, despite starting the year with a 25 percent winning percentage. The Boston Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs before going on to win their series against the Miami Heat. The C's took a 2-1 lead over the Warriors in the NBA Finals, but lost three in a row.

The returns of all the key players that got them to the NBA Finals, such as Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, made the 2022-23 campaign a good one. Boston could win its first NBA title in 15 years thanks to the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari.

The preseason has not gone well for Boston. Robert Williams III will be out four to six weeks after having an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, whileinari will be out the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Udoka has been suspended for the whole season. One of the NBA's top title contender will inherit a team. He has head coaching experience, having led Division II Fairmount State to a 43-17 record and an NCAA tournament appearance in his second year.

After scoring 17 points in West Virginia's upset win over John Wall in the 2010 Final Four, he went on to play collegiately for the school. He had 700 points and 340 assists.