Nets owner receives “strong” feedback on Ime Udoka

Now that the Brooklyn Nets have moved on from former head coach Steve Nash, their attention has turned to suspended Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, rumored to be the franchise’s next coach.

But voices within the Nets organization and from around the NBA are strongly suggesting to Nets owner Joe Tsai not to hire Udoka, who the Celtics suspended for a year because of a scandal involving a team subordinate. That report comes from NBA insider Mark Stein.

League sources say there have been some "strong voices" urging Joe Tsai to back off the Nets' intent to hire suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka as Steve Nash's successor given the considerable turmoil Brooklyn has already faced this season.

More to come: https://t.co/LGN9cVpMwn

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 7, 2022

Another reason why the Nets may not want to sign Udoka is because of the ongoing controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving and his antisemitic comments.

Some people feel the league and the team doesn’t need any more bad publicity after the last few weeks.

Udoka took the Celtics to the NBA Finals last year in his first season as head coach, which is obviously the reason the Nets want to hire him. But is the potential controversy that he brings with him worth it?  Perhaps, especially if the Nets can weather the current storm surrounding Irving. However, some think that the team hasn’t weathered this controversy with Irving well and is unprepared for what hiring Udoka would bring as well.

The Nets took a lot of heat for the way things unfolded with Irving. And they can expect the spotlight to remain directly on them if and when they hire Udoka.

{Marc Stein}