Former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has reportedly agreed to become the next coach of the Houston Rockets. Udoka was suspended for the entire 2022-23 season by Boston back in September following an internal investigation into an inappropriate workplace relationship. Now, Udoka has another shot as a head coach in the NBA.
Though few details have been publicly disclosed about Udoka’s suspension, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Rockets were able to learn more about the situation, and that “there was nothing that they found to be disqualifying.” Boston has said very little about the investigation, and have since promoted interim coach Joe Mazzulla to serve as the official head coach moving forward.
Mazzulla worked as an assistant with Udoka before taking over the reins in his absence. He was asked about Udoka’s hiring Tuesday night. Mazzulla explained he reached out to his former boss to say thank you.
“I texted him to say congratulations,” Mazzulla said. “And that I was grateful for the time that I had to learn from him as a coach.”
Mazzulla, 34, has picked up where Udoka left off last season. Under the previous regime, the Celtics became a defensive juggernaut. Mazzulla has taken that foundation and built a high-powered offense on top of that bedrock, borrowing lots of what Udoka had previously put in place.
The complicated circumstances around Udoka’s suspension and subsequent hiring haven’t full been explored in public. Mazzulla was asked about what the hiring represented and also what he learned from Udoka.
“I think it’s important,” Mazzulla said. “Second chances are important. Grace is important. Forgiveness is important. I’m a product of a second chance. I think it’s important to have that in society.
As a player with West Virginia, Mazzulla was arrested for assault, the second time he was arrested as a young man. When he was promoted to the position of interim coach with the Celtics, Mazzulla spoke about growth and forgiveness.
“I’m not the same person that I was,” Mazzulla said. “I think that as you grow as a person, you’re constantly having to build an identity. I didn’t have an identity at a certain point in my life, for whatever reason.”
Mazzulla was asked if Udoka could possibly reach out to his former assistants who still work for Boston. The Celtics coach was honest that if there’s a better opportunity for his staff, he wouldn’t want to stand in the way.
“I just want our guys to be in a position to feel like they’re growing as a person and they’re growing as a coach,” Mazzula said. “We’ve tried to make that environment here with the Celtics.”
“I always want guys to feel like they can grow as people or players wherever that may be. I think that’s the most important thing to express to a staff and organization.” Mazzulla added.
The Celtics are in the midst of what the team hopes will be a deep postseason run. Mazzulla is seeking to lead the team back to the Finals in his first year as head coach.
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