The NBA world got hit with some major news on Tuesday afternoon when the Brooklyn Nets announced that it was parting ways with head coach Steve Nash amid a slow start to the season and some controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving.
With Nash’s departure, the Nets will need a new head coach sooner than later. And one potential candidate will certainly spark quite a bit of controversy: suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka.
Jacque Vaughn is the acting head coach tonight but expect the Nets to inquire with suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka, Quin Snyder, among others. Boston will let Udoka leave for another job.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 1, 2022
“Jacque Vaughn is the acting head coach tonight but expect the Nets to inquire with suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka, Quin Snyder, among others. Boston will let Udoka leave for another job,” Wojnarowski said in a Tweet on Tuesday afternoon.
NBA insider Shams Charania echoed Wojnarowski’s report, saying that Udoka is a “strong frontrunner” to be the Nets’ next head coach.
Ime Udoka has emerged as a strong frontrunner to be the next Brooklyn Nets head coach and the sides have begun discussions, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Nets are in the midst of their search process and are continuing to do due diligence.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 1, 2022
Udoka, of course, was suspended for the entire 2022-23 NBA season due to a relationship with a female staffer where he reportedly made “unwanted comments” to her.
It would certainly be a wild move for the Nets, especially considering all the controversy around the team after Kyrie Irving posted a link to an antisemitic film. And the NBA world had plenty to say about it on Twitter.
Well Woj snuck that last line in https://t.co/F7XiM4VbCM
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) November 1, 2022
Ime Udoka won’t coach the #Celtics again. That’s over.
The question is whether Boston wants to try to control where he goes.
Would letting Udoka land in Brooklyn, where he’s an obvious fit and was once an assistant, be better than paying him to do nothing?
I’d hold him now. https://t.co/XyxgnnUatf
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) November 1, 2022
The Nets gon hire Udoka to add fuel to the Celtics/Nets Rivalry with Kyrie. Great Storyline for the NBA. https://t.co/4BSsOr4vKd
— Long Money Lito (@YoungLito) November 1, 2022
Hiring Udoka is certainly one way to get folks to stop asking questions about Kyrie and antisemitic movies. AK https://t.co/DBlI2HGfFH
— Kamenetzky Brothers (@KamBrothers) November 1, 2022
Kevin Durant being only the fourth most dramatic person on his team is a real possibility! https://t.co/kohqkPsPpR
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) November 1, 2022
There’s no drama like NBA drama.
Imagine Udoka coaching the Nets in a playoff run that goes through Boston. https://t.co/8pdt07Cvz8
— Don Bell (@DonBellonCBS3) November 1, 2022
The Nets plowing through a PR nightmare by hiring Udoka would be something else https://t.co/Th3wuIPCRq
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) November 1, 2022
Stephen A. Smith recently theorized that the Boston Celtics gave Udoka a suspension instead of firing him because they didn’t want him to end up coaching the Nets. Now, it looks like there’s at least a chance that happens regardless.
