Ime Udoka

Ime Sunday Udoka (/ˈiːmeɪ uːˈdoʊkə/ EE-may ooh-DOH-kə; born August 9, 1977) is a Nigerian-American professional basketball coach and former player, who is the head coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Born in the United States, he represented the Nigeria national team during his playing career. After retiring as a player, Udoka served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Brooklyn Nets before becoming the head coach of the Boston Celtics, whom he led to the 2022 NBA Finals. After being suspended for the 2022–23 season, Udoka was hired by the Rockets in April 2023.

Ime Udoka
Ime Udoka
Udoka with the Boston Celtics in 2022
Houston Rockets
PositionHead coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1977-08-09) August 9, 1977 (age 46)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Nigerian
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolJefferson (Portland, Oregon)
College
NBA draft2000: undrafted
Playing career2000–2012
PositionSmall forward
Number5, 8, 3
Coaching career2012–present
Career history
As player:
2000–2001Fargo-Moorhead Beez
2001Independiente
2002–2003North Charleston Lowgators
2003Adirondack Wildcats
2003–2004Charleston Lowgators
2004Los Angeles Lakers
2004Charleston Lowgators
2004Gran Canaria
2005JA Vichy
2005–2006Fort Worth Flyers
2006New York Knicks
2006–2007Portland Trail Blazers
20072009San Antonio Spurs
2009–2010Sacramento Kings
2010–2011San Antonio Spurs
2012UCAM Murcia
As coach:
20122019San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
2019–2020Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
2020–2021Brooklyn Nets (assistant)
20212023Boston Celtics
2023–presentHouston Rockets
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As assistant coach:

Career NBA statistics
Points1,635 (5.2 ppg)
Rebounds926 (2.9 rpg)
Assists308 (1.0 apg)
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at NBA.com
Stats Edit this at Wikidata at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals
Men's Basketball
Representing Ime Udoka Nigeria
African Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Algeria Nigeria
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Madagascar Nigeria

Early life

Udoka was born in Portland, Oregon on August 9, 1977, to Vitalis and Agnes Udoka. His father moved to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1970, and his mother was an American from Illinois. Udoka attended Portland's Jefferson High School.

College career

Udoka played for Utah State University Eastern and the University of San Francisco before transferring to Portland State University, where he starred for the Vikings.

Professional career

Fargo-Moorhead Beez (2000–2001)

After going undrafted in the 2000 NBA draft, Udoka started his professional basketball career by playing with Fargo-Moorhead Beez from 2000 to 2001.

Independiente (2001)

Udoka played with Independiente in 2001.

North Charleston Lowgators (2002–2003)

Udoka played with the North Charleston Lowgators from 2002 to 2003.

Adirondack Wildcats (2003)

Udoka played with the Adirondack Wildcats in 2003.

Charleston Lowgators (2003–2004)

Udoka played in the NBDL with the Charleston Lowgators, who drafted him with 39th overall pick in 2002 NBDL Draft.

Los Angeles Lakers (2004)

Udoka was called up to play with the Los Angeles Lakers on January 14, 2004, but was later waived.

Fort Worth Flyers (2005–2006)

After a stint in Europe, which included during the summer a brief contract with Žalgiris Kaunas, Lithuanian champions and Euroleague participants, Udoka returned to the United States and once again drafted in NBDL. This time, he was drafted third overall by the Fort Worth Flyers in 2005 NBDL Draft. Udoka averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game with the Flyers.

New York Knicks (2006)

On April 6, 2006, Udoka was signed by the New York Knicks but was waived on September 11, 2006.

Portland Trail Blazers (2006–2007)

Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers' training camp before the 2006–07 season, getting the invitation only after Aaron Miles failed a physical. Despite the death of his father during the preseason, Udoka impressed the coaching staff with his defensive skills and made the team.[citation needed] After having played in only 12 NBA games in his career, Udoka started in 75 games played in the 2006–07 season. He played 28.6 minutes per game while averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals.

San Antonio Spurs (2007–2009)

In 2007, Udoka signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He played in 73 games averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes. In his second season with the Spurs, Udoka played in 67 games, and started in three, averaging 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.

Return to Portland (2009)

After the 2009 season, Udoka became a free agent and eventually re-signed with the Trail Blazers on September 25, 2009. However, he was waived on October 22, 2009.

Sacramento Kings (2009–2010)

Udoka signed with the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2009. He played 69 games with the Kings, averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.

Return to San Antonio (2010–2011)

Ime Udoka 
Udoka in 2010

On November 24, 2010, Udoka rejoined the Spurs, but was waived on January 5, 2011, after playing in only 20 games.

New Jersey Nets (2011)

On December 15, 2011, Udoka signed with the New Jersey Nets. However, he was waived on December 23.

UCAM Murcia (2012)

In January 2012, Udoka signed with UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB.

Coaching career

San Antonio Spurs (2012–2019)

In August 2012, Udoka joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich. Udoka won his first championship as the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals, 4–1.

Udoka was also the key for LaMarcus Aldridge's decision to join the Spurs in 2015. Both Udoka and Aldridge played together with the Trail Blazers during Aldridge's rookie season.

Philadelphia 76ers (2019–2020)

On June 26, 2019, Udoka was hired as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. Udoka's head coach on the 76ers, Brett Brown, also coached under Gregg Popovich for the Spurs, and Udoka and Brown were on the same staff in the 2012–13 season.

Brooklyn Nets (2020–2021)

On October 30, 2020, the Brooklyn Nets hired Udoka as an assistant coach.

Boston Celtics (2021–2023)

Ime Udoka 
Udoka in 2021

On June 28, 2021, Udoka was hired as head coach of the Boston Celtics, becoming the franchise's sixth Black head coach, as well as the first head coach of African origin in league history. Although the Celtics began the 2021–22 season with an 18–21 record, they began a turnaround in January and finished as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51–31 record. The Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals and made their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010 but lost in six games to the Golden State Warriors despite a 2–1 lead.

On September 22, 2022, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the whole 2022–23 season for violating team policies. He was disciplined for engaging in an improper intimate relationship with a female staff member. Although the relationship was initially believed by the organization to be consensual, the woman later accused Udoka of making unwanted comments towards her. He issued an apology after the suspension was handed out, but chose not to resign from his position due to the violation. Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla took Udoka's place as the interim head coach. On February 16, 2023, Udoka's time with the Celtics came to an end when Mazzulla was named the team's permanent head coach after leading the Celtics to a league-best 42–17 record at the NBA All-Star break.

Houston Rockets (2023–present)

On April 25, 2023, Udoka was hired as head coach by the Houston Rockets.

National team career

Udoka was a player on the Nigerian national team. At the 2006 FIBA World Championships, he led Nigeria in scoring, assists, and steals. Udoka also played for Nigeria in the 2005 and 2011 FIBA Africa Championships, winning a bronze medal in both tournaments.

Udoka has served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball under his Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich. Udoka's coaching role on the 2019 FIBA World Cup team helped him build relationships with Celtics players Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, who advocated for his hiring as the new Celtics head coach. Udoka also coached for Team USA under Popovich at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, along with Celtics assistant Will Hardy.

Personal life

Udoka's father was of Nigerian descent, which qualified Udoka for Nigerian citizenship. His older sister, Mfon, played in the WNBA. Udoka's mother, who died in late 2011, was an American from Illinois.

In November 2011, Udoka's then-girlfriend, Nia Long, gave birth to their first child, a son named Kez. The couple became engaged in May 2015, but they split in 2022 after Udoka's affair with a Celtics staff member came to light.

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2003–04 L.A. Lakers 4 0 7.0 .333 .000 .500 1.3 .5 .5 .2 2.0
2005–06 New York 8 0 14.3 .375 .333 .500 2.1 .8 .1 .0 2.8
2006–07 Portland 75 75 28.6 .461 .406 .742 3.7 1.5 .9 .2 8.4
2007–08 San Antonio 73 0 18.0 .424 .370 .759 3.1 .9 .8 .2 5.8
2008–09 San Antonio 67 3 15.4 .383 .328 .609 2.8 .8 .5 .2 4.3
2009–10 Sacramento 69 2 13.7 .378 .286 .737 2.8 .8 .5 .1 3.6
2010–11 San Antonio 20 0 6.5 .238 .000 .500 .9 .7 .4 .0 .7
Career 316 80 18.1 .417 .356 .705 2.9 1.0 .7 .2 5.2

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008 San Antonio 16 0 14.8 .465 .400 .714 2.9 1.1 .7 .1 5.4
2009 San Antonio 5 0 20.8 .350 .125 .400 4.6 .8 .8 .2 3.4
Career 21 0 16.2 .440 .354 .583 3.3 1.0 .7 .1 5.0

Head coaching record

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Boston 2021–22 82 51 31 .622 1st in Atlantic 24 14 10 .583 Lost in NBA Finals
Career 82 51 31 .622   24 14 10 .583  

References

Tags:

Ime Udoka Early lifeIme Udoka College careerIme Udoka Professional careerIme Udoka Coaching careerIme Udoka National team careerIme Udoka Personal lifeIme Udoka NBA career statisticsIme Udoka Head coaching recordIme Udoka

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