Nigeria’s Ime Udoka Considered For Boston Celtics Coaching Job
Nigeria’s Ime Udoka is set to become the head coach of the Boston Celtics as the NBA side are finalising a deal with the former Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach.
Udoka, 43, will take over the position vacated by coach Brad Stevens, who was named Celtics president shortly after Boston lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Brooklyn Nets.
As a player, Udoka represented the Nigeria national basketball team, D’Tigers, in the 2006 FIBA World Championships. In the NBA, he played for the Los Angeles Lakers (2004), New York Knicks (2006), Portland Trail Blazers (2006-2007), San Antonio Spurs (2007-2009) and Sacramento Kings (2009-2010).
Udoka has no head coaching experience, but he has plenty of experience as an assistant, not to mention a seven-year playing career in the NBA. He also served as an assistant coach for Team USA in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Udoka, who joined the Spurs staff in 2012, won the NBA title with the team in 2014. He’s now set to become the 18th head coach in Celtics history.
Udoka played 316 games in the NBA and 12 years professionally overall (2000-12), spending time in the G League, International Basketball Association and United States Basketball League.
Chidi Nwoke/ESPN.
