An independent law firm hired by the Boston Celtics to investigate Ime Udoka’s relationship with an employee has apparently found that the now-suspended head coach made “distasteful comments” regarding the employee who reports to him.
That reports ESPN. This was an important factor in assessing the situation that ultimately led to Udoka’s one-year suspension. His comments were considered particularly worrying given that they were made in his managerial role.
The law firm identified the “balance of power associated with an inappropriate relationship between a supervisor and a staff member” as the most important violation of the franchise’s policies.
Due to the incidents, Udoka faces a “difficult road” back to his old post as head coach of the Celtics, which he might not resume until summer 2023 at the earliest, according to the report ESPN.
In addition, the franchise will apparently not stand in the way if Udoka is offered a job as a coach elsewhere. Several teams are said to have already tried to obtain as much information as possible regarding the incidents in order to evaluate Udoka as a potential future coaching candidate.
Celtics team owner Wyc Grousbeck said at a press conference last week that multiple violations of franchise policies by Udokas led to the suspension. The coach also has to accept a drop in his salary.
The 45-year-old only started his job as head coach of the Celtics last summer. In his freshman year in Boston, he led the team to the NBA Finals following a strong comeback in the second half of the season. The Celtics are also one of the favorites for the 2022/23 season, which starts in mid-October. Now Joe Mazzulla, 34, will lead the team into the new season as interim coach.