Boston coach Ime Udoka has been suspended for one year for multiple violations of team rules. A difficult situation for the players to manage.
Four days after the suspension for one year of their coach Ime Udoka, guilty of multiple violations of the internal regulations of the team, the players of Boston poured out their confusion in the face of this situation, Monday during the traditional Media Day before -season.
«It’s been hell for us, the last few days have been confusing. We couldn’t believe what we were hearing, especially at that timeso close to the start of the season, said Marcus Smart. “No one knows anything about this case“, added the leader of the finalist team of the last championship. “We wait like everyone else. As a player, you’d like to know, but that’s none of our business.»
Three months after reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, the Boston Celtics last Thursday suspended coach Ime Udoka for the entire 2022-23 season. Several outlets, led by The Athletic, reported, citing inside sources, that he had a “intimate and consensual bondwith a member of the franchise. Information neither denied nor confirmed by the C’s.
«That’s a lot, to be honestbreathed star winger Jason Tatum, the team’s leading scorer last season. “You’re still trying to process what’s going on knowing that we start training tomorrow.Joe Mazzulla, 34, was named interim coach during the absence of Ime Udoka, whose assistant he was.
«We were all shocked (…) and confused. A lot of information was not shared with us“, Still regretted the other All-Star Jaylen Brown. “The best we can do is move on, there’s no point in commenting because no one really has all the information, so might as well move onadded Brown, adding that he had not spoken with Udoka since the announcement of his suspension.
The Celtics players were still optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back from the shock, stressing the importance of rallying behind the new manager. “Joe [Mazzulla] knows the scheme, he knows the players so it’s easier to adapt to a coach who has already been there and who knows you“Argued Smart.
«Can we win the title? Do I believe it? Absolutelyreplied Tatum. “I really believe it, and I think everyone in the locker room does too.».
