BOSTON — Celtics coach Ime Udoka used “crude language” in his dialogue with a female staff member prior to his improper workplace relationship with her, which was a key finding by the independent law firm the team hired that led to his season-long suspension, according to a report Friday by ESPN.
ESPN’s report said that the findings from the investigation “described verbiage on Udoka’s part that was deemed especially concerning coming from a workplace superior,” and that the power dynamic associated with a superior’s relationship with the staffer was the main finding and policy violation in the law firm’s findings.
These findings are factoring into what is a difficult pathway to Udoka’s reinstatement as Celtics coach in 2023, according to ESPN’s report, which added that the C’s won’t stand in Udoka’s way if he becomes a coaching candidate elsewhere.
The Celtics announced on Sept. 22 that they suspended Udoka for the entirety of this upcoming season for what the team described as “violations of team policies.” During a press conference the following day, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck declined to offer details of what led to the suspension, but he confirmed that Udoka committed multiple violations and that no one else in the organization was being disciplined. Udoka’s suspension runs through June 30, 2023.
