With the Celtics sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings, it’s hard to believe that, just before the start of the season, the team was in a state of uncertainty following the suspension of head coach Ime Udoka for the season. Now, the situation appears to have reached a resolution.
Udoka is no longer employed by the organization, according to SI‘s Chris Mannix. The move comes after Joe Mazzulla, who had previously been installed as the team’s interim head coach, was named the team’s permanent head coach and given a contract extension.
“As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader. He has a unique ability to galvanize a room around a mission,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement. “We are thankful for the work he has done to help get us to this point, and excited that he has agreed to lead us into the future.”
Udoka was suspended in September for one year for multiple violations of team rules following a report detailing an “improper” relationship with a female team employee. In his lone year as Boston’s head coach, the Celtics posted a 51–31 record in the regular season, eventually losing to the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
