The Brooklyn Nets plan to hire Ime Udoka as head coach after ousting Steve Nash, the team announced Tuesday.
Nash was pushed out as head coach after the Nets fell to 2-5 on the season.
“We want to thank Steve for everything he brought to our franchise over the past two-plus seasons,” general manager Sean Marks said in a statement Tuesday. “Since becoming head coach, Steve was faced with a number of unprecedented challenges, and we are sincerely grateful for his leadership, patience and humility throughout his tenure. Personally, this was an immensely difficult decision; however, after much deliberation and evaluation of how the season has begun, we agreed that a change is necessary at this time.”
Udoka was suspended for the season by the Boston Celtics after he was caught engaging in a romantic affair with a married staffer.
Udoka’s hiring could be finalized in 24-48 hours, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Celtics wouldn’t stand in the way of Udoka leaving for another job, sources tell ESPN.
Udoka spent a season on Nash’s coaching staff before accepting the Celtics job and going on to win the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season as coach in May 2022.
The Celtics reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. They lost the championship to the Golden State Warriors.
Udoka is engaged to actress Nia Long. She moved to Boston from the west coast about a month before the scandal broke.
The Celtics staffer who arranged Long’s move to Boston was allegedly Udoka’s mistress.
