Boston Celtics assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will take over as interim head coach for the 2022/23 season after Ime Udoka was suspended by the side.
Udoka has been suspended for the entire season following an internal investigation, and his assistant will take the hot seat. Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA finals last season, and Mazzulla takes the senior role less than a month before the new campaign is set to get underway.
The Celtics stated that the decision was made after Udoka violated 'team policies', but stressed that a formal decision on his future beyond the upcoming season will be 'made at a later date'. The Celtics released a statement on Thursday night confirming the suspension.
The statement read: "The Boston Celtics announced today that the team has suspended Head Coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies. A decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date. The suspension takes effect immediately."
It's a huge blow for the Celtics, after such a successful season that almost saw them go all the way. Udoka led Boston to a 51-31 record last season, and a stunning end to the campaign saw them win 26 of their final 32 games.
But after beating Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat on the way to the NBA finals, they lost in six games to the Golden State Warriors. Udoka felt ashamed back then, and has admitted he has let down the Celtics after putting them in a difficult situation ahead of the new season.
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Udoka released a statement which read: "I want to apologise to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organisation, and my family for letting them down.
"I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team's decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment."
Udoka was only appointed by the Celtics in June 2021 as he succeeded Brad Stevens, but has been in coaching since 2012. After playing for San Antonio Spurs for the majority of his career, he joined their coaching staff in 2012.
Over a seven-year period, Udoka learnt the skills required to be head coach, and even experienced NBA success in 2014. Mazzulla has had a very different rise though, as he only joined the NBA as a coach in 2019.
Mazzulla was brought in by the Celtics in 2019 after impressing at Fighting Falcons in the NCAA division II, with the coach being undrafted in his playing career. But he will now have to step up to the ultimate test.
Mazzulla will have to personally manage the likes of Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown and Marcus Smart. However, he was known to be hands on anyway, and former coach Stevens is still at the club as general manager.
