Chicago (USA), Sep 23 (EFE) .- Brad Stevens, president of operations of the Boston Celtics, lamented the verbal attacks suffered by the women who work in the team, after the one-year suspension of coach Ime Udoka for violating internal rules of the franchise and having an alleged consensual relationship with a female worker.
He did it this Friday at a press conference organized with the owner of the Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck, in which the team considered the sanction ordered against Udoka necessary and “correct”, who will be suspended until June 30, pending that the board makes a final decision about its future.
The Celtics refused to give details about the reasons for the sanction, or what it will entail, and reported that this decision was made after an external investigation that detected at least two violations of the franchise code.
The chain ‘ESPN’ advanced the news last Wednesday and assured that Udoka has maintained “an intimate consensual relationship” with a woman who works in the team.
“It was a tough time, all I want to say is we have a lot of talented women in the franchise and I think yesterday was really tough for them,” Stevens said.
“No one can control the speculation and bullshit on Twitter, but I think as a team we have a responsibility to support it,” he added.
Grousbeck said that “no one else will face sanctions”, when asked if Udoka will be the only one sanctioned, noting that “when some things happen, there are consequences”.
He insisted on the Celtics’ responsibility to “take care of everyone affected on the team.”
“Udoka’s suspension is for one year and we will determine his future with us later. It will be discussed later, it has not been decided yet,” the owner said.
Stevens reported that Udoka’s replacement will be Joe Mazzulla, acting as interim manager.
“Joe will be in charge, it is not an easy moment for him and the rest of the coaching staff, but he is a very talented person, I believe a lot in his ability to lead people and in his ability to understand everything that happens in a team. for a season,” he said.
“(The coach and his collaborators) will need to be together, support each other and I have a lot of confidence in the team. Joe is the best choice. I think we have the best people,” he added.
He further stated that he never considered returning to the Celtics’ bench, a position he held from 2013 to 2021.
Udoka had coached the Celtics since last year and, in his first experience as head coach, led the team to the NBA Finals, lost to the Golden State Warriors.
Born in Portland in 1977, Udoka competed in Gran Canaria and Murcia in his playing career and, in his coaching career, he worked for the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach.
Mazzulla, 34, was an assistant coach for the Celtics for the past three seasons.
(c) EFE Agency
