BOSTON Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck said Friday (Saturday in Manila) that the season-long suspension of head coach Ime Udoka came after an outside investigation turned up “substantial” evidence that Udoka had violated team rules.
The suspension was the result of what ESPN reported was a consensual relationship with an unidentified female staff member. Grousbeck and team president Brad Stevens addressed the media Friday (Saturday in Manila) but did not confirm the reason for the suspension.
Grousbeck said once the team heard reports of potential rules violations by Udoka, the Celtics brought in a law firm to conduct an independent investigation.
“We have strong values at the Celtics, and we are doing our very best to uphold them here,” he said.
“I personally feel that this is well warranted and appropriate, backed by substantial research and evidence and facts, and so I’m standing by the decision,” he continued.
Grousbeck said Udoka’s suspension will run through June 30. While he did not state whether the suspension was unpaid, he said it came with a “significant financial penalty.”
And he also didn’t guarantee that Udoka, 45, ever would return to the bench.
“We will make a determination at a later time about Ime’s future with us,” he said.
Stevens, who coached the Celtics from 2013-21 before moving upstairs, confirmed 34-year-old Joe Mazzulla, a Udoka assistant coach, will lead the Celtics this upcoming season
“It’s not an easy timing for him or the rest of staff, but he’s an exceptionally sharp and talented person,” Stevens said.
While the Celtics executives didn’t confirm a relationship with a woman was the cause of the suspension, Stevens spoke emotionally as he apologized to female staff members. On Thursday (Friday in Manila), speculation on social media ran rampant about which woman could have been involved with Udoka, with users posting photos of various team employees.
