Ime Udoka was born in Portland, Oregon on August 9, 1977, to Vitalis and Agnes Udoka. His father moved to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1970, and his mother was an American from Illinois. Udoka attended Portland's Jefferson High School.[2]
After a stint in Europe, which included a brief summer contract with Žalgiris Kaunas, Lithuanian champions and Euroleague participants, Udoka returned to the United States and was once again drafted in NBDL. This time, he was drafted third overall by the Fort Worth Flyers in the 2005 NBDL Draft.[6] Udoka averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game with the Flyers.[7]
New York Knicks (2006)
On April 6, 2006, Udoka signed with the New York Knicks. He appeared in eight games, averaging 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes.[8] Udoka was waived on September 11.
Portland Trail Blazers (2006–2007)
Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers' training camp before the 2006–07 season, getting the invitation only after Aaron Miles failed a physical. Despite the death of his father during the preseason,[9] Udoka impressed the coaching staff with his defensive skills and made the team.[citation needed]
After having played in only 12 NBA games in his career, Udoka started all 75 games he played in during the 2006–07 season. He played 28.6 minutes per game while averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals.[8]
San Antonio Spurs (2007–2009)
In 2007, Udoka signed with the San Antonio Spurs.[7][10] He played in 73 games, averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes.[8]
In his second season with the Spurs, Udoka played in 67 games and started in three, averaging 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.[8]
Return to Portland (2009)
After the 2009 season, Udoka became a free agent and eventually re-signed with the Trail Blazers on September 25, 2009.[11] However, he was waived on October 22.[12][13]
Sacramento Kings (2009–2010)
On November 4, 2009, Udoka signed with the Sacramento Kings.[14] He played in 69 games and started in two, averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.[8]
Return to San Antonio (2010–2011)
Udoka in 2010
On November 24, 2010, Udoka re-signed with the Spurs.[15] However, he was waived on January 5, 2011, after playing in 20 games and averaging only 0.7 points and 0.9 rebounds in 6.5 minutes.[16]
New Jersey Nets (2011)
On December 15, 2011, Udoka signed with the New Jersey Nets.[17] However, he was waived on December 23 and did not appear in any games.[18]
On June 26, 2019, Udoka was hired as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.[23] His head coach on the 76ers at the time, Brett Brown, also coached under Gregg Popovich for the Spurs, and both Udoka and Brown were on the same staff in the 2012–13 season.[24]
Brooklyn Nets (2020–2021)
On October 30, 2020, the Brooklyn Nets hired Udoka as an assistant coach.[25]
Boston Celtics (2021–2023)
2021–22 season
Udoka in 2021
On June 23, 2021, it was reported that the Boston Celtics had hired Udoka as their head coach, replacing Brad Stevens, who was promoted to President of Basketball Operations earlier that month.[26][27][28] The hiring became official five days later.[29][30][31] Stevens later stated that he hired Udoka as his own replacement as head coach since Udoka had "a great approachability."[32] He became the franchise's sixth African-American head coach, as well as the first head coach of African origin in NBA history.[33]
Udoka in 2022
Although the Celtics began the 2021–22 season with an 18–21 record, they began a turnaround in January and finished as the #2-seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51–31 record.[34][35][36] During the turnaround, Udoka earned two Eastern Conference Coach of the Month awards, one in February and another for March and April.[37][38] During the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round and then went on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games during the Eastern Conference Semifinals.[39][40] The Celtics went on to defeat the Miami Heat in seven games during the Eastern Conference Finals to make their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010.[41][42] However, the Celtics lost the 2022 NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors in six games despite a 2–1 lead.[43][44]
2022–23 season
On September 22, 2022, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the entire 2022–23 season for violating team policies.[45][46] He was disciplined for engaging in an improper intimate relationship with a female staff member.[47][48] Although the Celtics initially believed the relationship was consensual, the woman later accused Udoka of making unwanted comments towards her.[49][50] He issued an apology after being suspended, but Udoka chose not to resign from his position due to the violation.[51][52][53] Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla replaced Udoka as interim head coach.[54]
On February 16, 2023, Mazzulla was named the team's permanent head coach after leading the Celtics to a league-best 42–17 record at the NBA All-Star break, signaling the end of Udoka's tenure in Boston.[55][56][57]
Houston Rockets (2023–present)
2023–24 season
On April 25, 2023, Udoka was hired as head coach of the Houston Rockets.[1]
Udoka was named Western Conference Coach of the Month in March after the Rockets won 13 of their 15 games that month.[58][59] In his first season with the team, the Rockets finished with a 41–41 record and barely missed the playoffs.[60][61]
Udoka has served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball under his Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich. Udoka's coaching role on the 2019 FIBA World Cup team helped him build relationships with Celtics players Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, who advocated for his hiring as the new Celtics head coach.[63] Udoka also coached for Team USA under Popovich at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, along with Celtics assistant Will Hardy.[64]
Personal life
Udoka's father, Vitalis, was of Nigerian descent,[9] which qualified Udoka for Nigerian citizenship. His older sister, Mfon, played in the WNBA. Udoka's mother, Agnes, who died in late 2011, was an American from Illinois.[65]
In February 2010, Udoka met actress Nia Long and they later began a relationship.[66] On November 7, 2011, Long gave birth to their first child, a son named Kez Sunday.[67] Udoka and Long got engaged in May 2015,[68][69][70] but they split in December 2022, a few months after Udoka's affair with a female Celtics staff member came to light.[71]
.png)
