Report: Nets May "Back Off" On Ime Udoka Due To "Blowback"

If you've been wondering why the seemingly inevitable hiring by the Brooklyn Nets of suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka hasn't happened yet, it's because it just might not. According to Adam Zagoria in nj.com, owner Joe Tsai "is getting some blowback” and there’s “too much potential drama,” one league source told Zagoria of a possible Udoka hiring.

There has been some concern from women in leadership positions within the Nets about hiring Ime Udoka, per @AdamZagoria

“[Nets owner] Joe [Tsai] is getting some blow back” and there’s “too much potential drama,”

(Via https://t.co/Pd7dRW49vb) pic.twitter.com/nock6OxgO1
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) November 7, 2022

In addition, the report notes that NBA commissioner Adam Silver "may have stepped in."

The "blowback" mentioned is internal, from within the Nets organization. “There has been some concern from women in leadership positions within the Nets.”

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

The Nets fired Steve Nash as head coach a week ago, in the midst of the latest Kyrie Irving drama, and a woeful 2-6 start. It was immediately reported, within a couple of hours after the firing, that they were in talks to hire the shamed and suspended Udoka. He was put on ice by the Celtics for a full season for inappropriate sexual allegations in their organization.

The Nets, meanwhile, have since won two games under interim coach Jacque Vaughn.