The Boston Celtics are finalizing an agreement to hire Brooklyn Nets assistant Ime Udoka as the franchise’s new coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
Udoka “separated himself quickly” in President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens’ search process, Wojnarowski also notes.
The 43-year-old just finished his first season on Steve Nash’s staff after spending one year as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and seven years with the San Antonio Spurs.
Udoka has received strong reviews from Celtics players (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart) who played for the U.S. National team in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, as he was an assistant on coach Gregg Popovich’s staff.
Stevens was believed to value Udoka’s extensive experience as an assistant with the Spurs, 76ers and Nets.
Udoka had developed into a top head coaching candidate in this cycle and seemed destined to get a job, Wojnarowski added.
Now, he gets to coach a team with two young stars in Tatum and Brown.
