Good help is difficult to retain, it would seem. On Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets lost the services of Ime Udoka, their assistant manager. He will now be the head coach of the Boston Celtics after the two parties reached an agreement on his contract.
A Bigger Responsibility For Ime Udoka
Ime Udoka will be replacing Brad Stevens at the Boston Celtics. Earlier in the month, Brad Stevens had replaced the retiring Danny Ainge as the Celtics’ president for operations regarding basketball. Udoka had been working for the Nets for only one season. The Brooklyn Nets face the possibility of losing two more assistants as their names have come up for spots of head coaches that are currently vacant.
Ime Udoka, who is now 43 years old, had long been expected to become the head coach for a franchise in the NBA. For the Nets, he basically served as the defensive coordinator for Steve Nash. The Celtics will be receiving a tough-love, no-nonsense approach from Udoka. His stint at the Nets is proof of that. Moreover, he had also become acquainted with several Celtics players at the FIBA 2019 World Cup.
Mike James, the guard for the Nets, said the Ima Udeko has his primary focus on defense since as a player he used to play in that position while preferring physicality. For him, personally, he always reminded James to keep track of the small things that go into defensive plays.
He adds that Udeko will never hold back what he feels, and will be honest with the players at all times, even if it means being brutal. James explained that he preferred Udeko’s honesty as it also contained tips on how to be better.
Boston had also looked into Darvin Ham, the assistant for the Bucks, as well as Chauncey Billups, the assistant for the Clippers.
