The Celtics are expected to make a decision on the length of that suspension on Thursday, but Udoka’s job is not believed to be in jeopardy, sources said. Udoka’s top assistant coach, Will Hardy, left to become coach of the Utah Jazz, and another Jazz finalist, Celtics assistant Joe Mazzulla, will likely be seriously considered for an interim role, sources told ESPN. Udoka joined the Celtics last summer after spending time with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach following his NBA career. 2 Related Udoka replaced Brad Stevens as coach. Stevens moved upstairs to become Boston’s president of basketball operations after his predecessor in that job, Danny Ainge, opted to leave the organization. In his first season as head coach, Udoka oversaw a remarkable turnaround in Boston, one that saw the Celtics go from below .500 in late January to closing the season with a 28-7 record over their final 35 games. They then put together an impressive run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years. Udoka is the fifth coach in the last 25 years to reach the NBA Finals in his first season as a head coach and the first since Nick Nurse in 2019. He also became the first rookie coach to win multiple 7 games in his first season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Udoka led Boston to victories over the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games before Boston lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals. ESPN NBA writer Tim Bontemps contributed to this report.
