Nets’ Assistant Ime Udoka Finalizing Deal With Boston Celtics To Become Next Head Coach

If you were looking for an expedited and exclamatory offseason for the newly-appointed President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, you’ve seemed to rub the right lamp for the genie to come out.

It’s only been two weeks, but in that time, the Celtics have seen executive adjustments and personnel revolutions, much quicker than usually anticipated with a new regime in control. Now that coaching duties have been relinquished, you can say they’ve permanently delegated their vacant position to the newest member of the Celtics’ organization.

Boston finalized a deal that’ll send Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Ime Udoka to become the 17th head coach in the history of the legacy-enshrining Boston Celtics, and in doing so, they have appointed the same number of coaches as they have won championships. Udoka’s new gig puts him in an exemplary and historic class, as he’ll be the sixth African-American coach in the history of the 17-time world champions.

And especially in an age where the outcry for social justice and player empowerment hasn’t been louder, diversity and the need for a black coach in arguably one of the most ethnically and politically homogenous parts of the nation, this hiring comes as a relatively big deal in the wake of isolated fan incidents and vocalized experiences (which, are entirely up to one’s perspective of the town and its fans) from former Celtics players – and visiting opponents – over the xenophobic remarks and fan culture in the city of Boston, Massachusetts.

Though he’ll officially have his first press conference on Wednesday, Boston fans can expect a coach that utilizes the importance of team basketball, grit, intensity, and synergetic capacity.

“I definitely believe in team basketball, unselfish, all the stuff that breeds winning,” Udoka said when asked about a potential opportunity to become a head coach back in 2019. “I want a tough, physical, aggressive team…If you’re coming in that night, it’s gonna be a battle.”

Udoka, 43, was a team favorite, sources say, and had his candidacy for the vacant position bolstered during the 2019 FIBA World Cup in which the former Portland Trail Blazer, Laker, King, Knick, and Spur served as an assistant coach for Team USA Basketball and helped maximize the talents of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart — key Celtics stars hand-picked to represent their home nation in the worldwide tournament.

For seven years, Udoka served as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio as soon as his playing career ended. From there, he transitioned into a similar role in Philadelphia under another Popovich disciple in Brett Brown and then moved on to assist Steve Nash this past season in his lone year in Brooklyn.

Udoka will replace Brad Stevens as the head coach of the Celtics, who in his final year under coaching responsibilities, finished seventh in the Eastern Conference this season with an even 36-36 record and lost to Udoka’s Brooklyn Nets in five games in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Boston still found a way to reach the postseason for the seventh time in eight years this season, even in a year marred by COVID-19 difficulties and persistent injury woes to star players like the recently-traded Kemba Walker and budding star forward Jaylen Brown.

As Boston’s roster looks to improve in Free Agency this year and in the next, with Jayson Tatum quickly ascending the ranks as one of the league’s best players under the age of 26, the Ime Udoka era in Beantown could start out brighter than imagined.

Photo Cred: Darren Hartwell/NBC Sports Boston