Ime Udoka.Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty
Ime Udokaspoke with the media for the first time since he suspended as head coach of the Boston Celtics in September due to an inappropriate relationship with a female staffer.
On Monday, the Houston Rockets announced Udoka, 45, would become their next head coach in a press conference, and he addressed his affair publicly for the first time.
While speaking to the media in Houston, Udoka was asked about his rocky ending with the Celtics. “I released a statement months ago when everything happened and apologized to a lot of people for the tough position I put them in,” he said.
Ime Udoka.Maddie Malhotra/Getty
Udoka said he knew he had to “take responsibility for” his actions, and he tells his players to do the same. “I preach that to the players and so I have to take responsibility for my part in it,” he said on Wednesday.
Part of his offseason work on himself included “leadership and sensitivity training” as well as counseling with his son “to help him improve the situation that I put him in,” said Udoka, who shares son Kez, 11, with ex-fiancéeNia Long. “You can grow from adversity and I think I’ve done that this year if you spend it in the right direction or take the right steps.”
Udoka insisted that “the matter has been resolved” and added that he “can’t really speak much about it” further.
Since September, reports of NBA teams interested in Udoka began to circulate, including rumors hemay end up with the Brooklyn Netsor Utah Jazz.
Udoka was ultimately suspended as Boston’s head coach for the entirety of the 2022-23 NBA season due to"violations of team policy,“in a scandal that rocked the NBA and the Celtics basketball organization. Udoka reportedly participated in an alleged inappropriate, consensual relationship with a female colleague, according toCBS.
Ime Udoka.Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald/Getty
His multiple violations involved one woman, a Celtics spokesman told theAssociated Press. No one else in the organization faced discipline, Celtics majority ownerWyc Grousbeck said, adding how the team will be vigilant to ensure that Udoka’s actions aren’t a preview of a larger problem.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Udoka gave astatementto ESPN’s Malika Andrews on the alleged relationship, saying that he accepts “the team’s decision.”
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” hesaidat the time. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision.”
RELATED VIDEO: Nia Long Slams Boston Celtics, Says ‘No One’ Has Called to ‘See If I’m OK’ After Ime Udoka Scandal
Udoka was in a relationship with Long for over a decade. A rep for Long, 52, confirmed to PEOPLE that the formerly-engaged couple is “no longer togetherbut remain fully committed to co-parenting their son [Kez].”
Udoka led the Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance during his first year as an NBA head coach. The Golden State Warriors defeated Boston in six games.
Udoka will now coach the Rockets, who finished 14th in the western conference with a 22-60 record. Their roster includes Jalen Green, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr., amongst others.
source: people.com
