Ime Udoka Says Celtics 'Lied' about Being Kept in the Dark

Ime Udoka's first trip back to Boston since his Celtics departure brought new information about his exit to light.

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday night represented Ime Udoka's return to Boston for the first time since the transgressions and subsequent suspension that led to his departure from the Celtics.

Before the game, while discussing what he regrets most, letting people down, the franchise's former bench boss expressed of not following up on the most impressive in-season turnaround in NBA history, going from being 11th in the East to two wins from a title, "obviously, (I) wanted a chance to run it back and do it again with a group that you feel you can build and grow with."

His exit came five days before training camp last season, thrusting Joe Mazzulla, 34 at the time, from sitting behind the bench to becoming the NBA's youngest active head coach.

The nature of his departure, which included a franchise trying its best to protect everyone involved, including itself from a legal standpoint, led to players stating at different points before, during, and after the 2022-23 campaign that they felt left in the dark about what happened.

Putting it plainly, Udoka conveyed, "I would say they lied to you guys. They knew, or some of them knew. Obviously, if I had talked to them, they wouldn't share stuff publicly. So who needed to know knew."

After generating a game-high 32 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in the Celtics' 145-113 win over his former head coach's Houston Rockets, when informed of Udoka's comments, Jaylen Brown voiced, "It was definitely a weird process."

"We, kind of, knew what was going on, but then, there was, like, a time where we were hearing speculation that there was like more to it," the two-time All-Star continued. "And it turned out to be that wasn't -- it wasn't anything else than what we already knew. But, definitely, a peculiar kind of situation or whatever. But overall, I'm just happy to see him back on his feet, back coaching on the sideline, where he belongs, and I was happy that it ended up working out for both parties."

Jayson Tatum, who registered 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block before getting ejected early in the final frame with the outcome already decided, said of the subject, "Just to be honest, like, some of those private conversations, I kind of want to keep private," adding, "We've all moved on. Leave that in the past."

Further Reading

Ime Udoka Assesses Tatum and Brown's Growth Since Coaching Them: 'A Lot of Potential That I Haven't Tapped Into'

Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Steamrolled Rockets in Ime Udoka's Return

Ime Udoka Shares How He Felt After Celtics Suspended Him: 'We've Talked It Out'

Marcus Smart in Danger of Missing Return to Boston

Jrue Holiday Responds to Celtics Saying He's Sacrificing Most: 'Not Mad at My Situation'

Driven by Championship Pursuit, Jayson Tatum Unfazed by Sacrifice, Less Fanfare: 'Don't Look for That Praise'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Derrick White Opens Up About Journey from Uncertainty He Belonged in the NBA to an All-Star Caliber Guard

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'