By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The biggest news right now in the NBA is Steve Nash getting fired by the Nets, and Ime Udoka emerging as a top candidate to replace him.
And of course, the Boston Celtics players are surprised by the turn of events. Ime Udoka was suspended for a year in September because of violations of organizational policies. The impression given was that Udoka, who guided the team to the NBA Finals last June, would return to the NBA at the earliest in the next season.
“Obviously, we wish he was here,” Marcus Smart told the Boston Globe Wednesday.
“We have no control over that. It definitely sucks. I guess it was deemed that whatever happened was enough for him not to be the coach here, but I guess not enough for him not to be a coach anywhere else, obviously.”
Udoka led the Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance last season as a first-time head coach in the league but didn’t get a chance to build on it. According to reports, Udoka used inappropriate language with a female subordinate and carried on an improper relationship.
Udoka’s name was connected to the Nets vacancy within hours after Brooklyn fired Steve Nash on Tuesday, though general manager Sean Marks maintained that no hire had been made.