Boston Celtics Hire Ime Udoka As New Head Coach

 

He was a favored candidate by many players, now Ime Udoka will become the new head coach of the Boston Celtics. 

Ime Udoka:

Coach experience ✅
Good looks ✅
Player's respect/endorsement ✅
Intimidating presence ✅

He checks every box. pic.twitter.com/tRcCw19Xc0

— CelticsForum 🍀 (@celticsforum) June 20, 2021

The core members of this Celtics team had given Udoka their endorsement during the coaching search. 

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart have given the Celtics “strong reviews” of head coaching candidate Ime Udoka, per @wojespn.

They all played under Udoka when he was an assistant during the FIBA World Cup in 2019. pic.twitter.com/FjiPx0ATbr

— Guy Boston Sports (@GuyBostonSports) June 18, 2021

You can't have a more influential trio in the Celtics' locker room than Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart. All three of them spoke highly of their experience playing under Team USA assistant coach Udoka at the 2019 World Cup. 

After a tumultuous year of dysfunction in the Celtics' locker room this past season, the hiring of Udoka should vastly improve the team chemistry. 

Udoka was an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets this past season. He edged out Chauncey Billups for the job, who also had multiple interviews with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. 

Udoka becomes the first Nigerian head coach in NBA history, and has a championship ring from 2014 as an assistant under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs.

BREAKING: Ime Udoka will reportedly be the Celtics' new head coach. Learn a little bit about his past experience here⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6JRv9hEv3X

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 23, 2021

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports