Ime Udoka talks about his exit from the Boston Celtics / News - Basketnews.com

Current Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka talked about his two seasons with the Boston Celtics, which ended as he was sacked for being involved in a controversy.

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Ime Udoka, the head coach of the Houston Rockets, returned to familiar territory as his team faced off against the Boston Celtics in the TD Garden.

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In the years between 2021 and 2023, the American-Nigerian former player had his first head coaching experience with the Boston Celtics after being an assistant coach in three various teams for 9 years.

Speaking to ESPN, the coach talked about the thoughts he had upon his return to the home of the Celtics, firstly remarking on the 2022-23, which was cut short for him.

"Job not finished," he said in a blunt description of the season. "The relationships you build and the people you impact. So that'd be the biggest thing [I think about].

"[I] formed a lot of relationships within a year, and obviously want to get a chance to run it back with a group you feel you can build and grow with. So, letting the people down," Udoka reflected with a hit of sadness. "I talked about the players, the relationships I built with them, the coaches that came with me, and then everybody else that was impacted by it," he continued about the controversy that led to his suspension.

Udoka expresses melancholy over the fact that his actions led to a sort of a falling out between himself and the members of that Celtics team, but he is also under the impression that it will totally become water under the bridge soon enough.

"So for me that's the biggest thing I would say overall is letting some people down, for sure. But we've talked it out, and I've seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly, and so we move past it."

He supported this belief when asked whether he was anxious to get over the game between the Rockets and the Celtics.

3-pointers this season

38%16,2Points made:16,2Accuracy:37,8%Place in standings:1Record max:25Record min:7Most made 3FGs:Jayson TatumTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

"It kind of didn't matter to me at all," Udoka said.

Ultimately, Udoka does not seem adamant in affording a deeper meaning to his return to TD Garden, seeing that successful year in the Boston Celtics as just a year in his career.

"I spent a good year and had some success. But I just saw a few people that you're reminded of, everyone on the ramp when you walk in. So, it was a little bit different, as far as that," he said.

"We had a good year [here], not great year, [because we] didn't get it done," Udoka stated, reflecting on the fact that the Celtics eventually lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. "But yeah, I would say just seeing some people I haven't seen in a while ... then, once it's done, it's done. A first time for everything. We've been through it and are ready to move on."

The former inhabitant of TD Garden was then asked whether the assertion of some Celtics players that they did not know what happened to the coach was correct.

"I would say they lied to you guys," said Udoka, with a subtle smile, according to the interviewer. "They knew. Some of them knew, and, you know, obviously, I could talk to them, and they wouldn't share stuff publicly. So, who needed to know, knew," he claimed.

Finally, Udoka reflected on the game, which ended in a blowout loss for the Houston Rockets with a score of 145-113, with a snide comment towards his team.

"I would have loved for people to guard them the way we guarded them tonight when I was here."

Udoka's tenure with the Celtics, at least his first season (2021-22 season), was a success, as the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals but fell to the Golden State Warriors with a Finals record of 4-2.

In his second season, the head coach was suspended for having relations with a female staff member of the Celtics and was eventually fired from his position, being replaced by assistant coach Joe Mazzulla.

This year, Udoka's Houston Rockets currently has a record of 19-19 and is in 10th place in the Western Conference.

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