Celtics' Coaching Search Finalists Take Shape

The Boston Celtics have reached out to three finalists for second interviews in their search for a new head coach.

Brooklyn’s Ime Udoka, Milwaukee’s Darvin Ham and Clippers’ Chauncey Billups are among head coaching candidates who Boston hopes to interview for a second time, sources tell ESPN. Celtics’ search continues to focus in the assistant ranks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2021

All three of the candidates are still busy as assistant coaches in the NBA playoffs. The Brooklyn Nets' Ime Udoka, the Milwaukee Bucks' Darvin Ham, and the Los Angeles Clippers' Chauncey Billups will all meet with Celtics' new president of basketball operations Brad Stevens for a second time.

Udoka, in particular, has received rave reviews from certain players who played for him at the 2019 World Cup tournament. And those certain players just might have a bit of sway in Boston: Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

Billups is the biggest name among the group, with a resume that includes a 17-year NBA career, 5 All-Star selections, and an NBA Finals MVP (2004 with the Detroit Pistons).

One name that is NOT on the Celtics' list of finalists has only been out of a job for a day:

Per league source: Celtics have "three or four" strong coaching candidates, but Rick Carlisle isn't considered one of them.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) June 18, 2021