Nets Reportedly View Ime Udoka as ‘Last Ditch Effort to Make This Work’

Nothing is official when it comes to who the Nets’ next coach will be, but by all accounts, they are set to bring in suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka.

If that is indeed the case, it appears they will be turning to Udoka as a savior of sorts, someone who can finally get the pairing of forward Kevin Durant and point guard Kyrie Irving to work. 

So far, that has not been the case for more than a few stretches in their time together. The result was Steve Nash being fired as coach.

“This very much is probably for this Nets’ group, this iteration, this core, this is probably the last ditch effort to make this work,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said of the Nets’ potentially hiring Udoka, via RealGM.

Udoka, 45, was an assistant under Nash with the Nets for one season, before taking the Celtics job in the summer of 2021. He led the Celtics to the Finals, but was suspended during the offseason, for the year, for what the team called an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.

NetsDaily reported he also sent repeated inappropriate messages to multiple female staffers.

Udoka was apologetic about his suspension in a prepared statement prior to the season.

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” he said. “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.”

Prior to his coaching career, Udoka was a small forward with the Lakers in 2004, then spent time with the Knicks, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Kings from 2006-11. He also played professionally overseas.

Prior to his coaching stint with the Nets, he served as an assistant with Gregg Popovich and the Spurs for seven years.