When Ime Udoka was suspended immediately on the eve of coaching camp earlier than the 2022-23 season, Celtics gamers had been damage, pissed off and confused. They expressed that publicly, questioning why the coach that they had grown near of their run to the NBA Finals was gone. They felt left in the dead of night.
Privately, although – within the midst of the suspension that in the end changed into his dismissal after he violated Celtics insurance policies, reportedly for having an inappropriate relationship with a feminine member of the group – Udoka mentioned he stayed in contact with a few of his former gamers concerning the occasions that led to his messy exit from Boston.
“I would say they lied to you guys,” Udoka mentioned. “Some of them knew and, you know, obviously I could talk to them and they wouldn’t share stuff publicly, so who needed to know, knew.”
Udoka, who shortly discovered a brand new job as the top coach of the Rockets, returned to TD Garden on Saturday for the primary time since his dismissal. When he was launched previous to Saturday’s recreation, the reception from the group was a mixture of cheers and boos, in all probability extra the latter. His stoic, impassive demeanor has remained. He didn’t have any sentimental emotions for coming again, and whereas he has now lengthy moved previous the drama and circumstances of his departure, he did categorical some remorse for the way his tenure in Boston ended.
“I talked about it, obviously when it happened and obviously in my press conference leading up to Houston. But job not finished,” Udoka mentioned. “The relationships you construct and the folks you impression. So that’d be the most important factor. Formed a whole lot of relationships inside a 12 months and clearly need to get an opportunity to run it again with a gaggle you’re feeling you’ll be able to construct and develop with. So, letting the folks down.
“I talked about the players, the relationships I built with them, the coaches that came with me, and then everybody else that was impacted by it. So for me that’s the biggest thing I would say overall is letting some people down, for sure. But we’ve talked it out and I’ve seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly, and so we move past it.”
Throughout final season, Celtics gamers continued to carry Udoka in excessive regard regardless of what occurred. Marcus Smart expressed disappointment when Udoka reportedly landed the Brooklyn Nets head-coaching opening early within the season shortly after his Boston exit. Jayson Tatum maintained that Udoka was the perfect coach he had ever performed for.
The relationships between Udoka and his former Celtics gamers remained regardless of no matter transgressions bought him dismissed. He mentioned he was as clear concerning the state of affairs with them as he may very well be.
“I was up front with the guys. When the things happened, I reached out to who I needed to and you know, have a little comfort in guys knowing what happened and how it all went down,” Udoka mentioned. “And then clearly, made up with my coaches as a result of all of them got here with me to Houston. So a whole lot of my guys are again with me and I talked to them all year long every time I might, however needed to present them house to do their factor, as properly. And that goes with the gamers as properly. But bumped into fairly a little bit of them over the summer season and Marcus Smart’s marriage ceremony and all over the place in between. So I’ve seen all of them and talked to them often. …
“It’s the relationships that have been built and they’re going to be long lasting. So we all check on each other. It’s no different than LaMarcus Aldridge or Joel Embiid or guys that I’ve coached that I’ve gotten really close with. From that standpoint, if they do something crazy or I do something crazy, they reach out. In general, I think being in LA in the summers, we all run into each other quite a bit and talk regularly. I wouldn’t say it’s any different than anybody else, other than the fact that we had a lot of success in a short period and really formed great relationships.”
Tip-ins
Dalano Banton was briefly assigned to the Maine Celtics on Saturday to play within the group’s 112-92 win over the Indiana Mad Ants. He scored 28 factors on 22 photographs because the group seems to be to proceed his growth offensively.
“It’s dual. At the end of the day, just maintaining your confidence, maintaining your conditioning,” Joe Mazzulla mentioned on the advantage of Banton getting a while in Maine. “He took 28 photographs, which is nice, as a result of he must trust in his shot when he is available in right here and performs. He took seven threes, which is a shot that he’s going to must make when he performs with us.
“So I think it’s just patience as far has when his turn is coming, and then open-mindedness to like, this is a development phase and this is an opportunity for you to continue to get better so that when you play with us, you have that confidence because of the reps.” …
Dillon Brooks returned for the Rockets on Saturday for his first recreation since Dec. 26 when he suffered a proper belly indirect harm.
Source: www.bostonherald.com