A difficult time. Ime Udoka‘s year-long suspension from the Boston Celtics has taken a toll on the entire team, according to Marcus Smart.
“It’s been hell for us,” the Celtics point guard, 28, told The Athletic in September 2022, less than one week after new broke that the coach, 45, had been suspended following an inappropriate relationship with another member of the organization. “It happened in a time that we didn’t have any time to understand everything before media day … we just found out like you guys did, so we’re doing our best to cope.”
Smart continued: “Nobody died, so we didn’t lose anything. I still love Ime as a person and as a coach. It’s just something unfortunate that has happened to him. It doesn’t take away anything from him as a coach, from how he turned this team around.”
On September 22, The Athletic reported that Udoka — who split from ex-fiancée Nia Long in December 2022 after 13 years together — had an “intimate and consensual relationship with a female member” of the team’s staff. The alleged relationship was not only considered “improper” by the franchise but is also a violation of the NBA’s code of conduct.
One day later, the Boston Celtics announced that he had been suspended for the 2022-2023 season due to “violations of team policies,” which left the Oregon native’s future with the team up in the air.
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said in a statement following his suspension. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”
Long, 51, released a statement of her own on September 23, in which she addressed her fiancé’s scandal. “The outpouring love and support from family, friends and the community during this difficult time means so much to me,” the Best Man star told Us Weekly at the time. “I ask that my privacy be respected as I process the recent events. Above all, I am a mother and will continue to focus on my children.”
The longtime couple welcomed son Kez in 2011 and the former basketball player popped the question in 2015. Following their 2022 split, Long — who also shares son Massai, 21, with ex Massai Z. Dorsey — revealed that she had no plans of getting into a new serious relationship anytime soon. “My mind is not even there at all,” the actress said in a February 2023 interview with The Cut.
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
She added: “I want to go out and have amazing, important, deep, thoughtful conversations. I want to travel. I want to laugh. I want to cook with my kids and listen to music. I want a good glass of wine. I want a good goodnight kiss. Everything else will have to show itself as being that. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about Udoka’s scandal and suspension:
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tr%2FMmp6aspmjsm%2BvzqZmnJ2cmq%2BztdOyZKedp6h8sbXCrayrnaNku6qtjKWmp5%2BjYrOqrc2cnGahnZp6trDOpJisZZOdsqLAyKeeZpyilrqiedahmK1lpKR6rLrOsGY%3D