NBA Notebook: Ime Udoka returned to Garden to little fanfare despite lasting impact on Celtics

Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka became he who shall not be named, publicly, for most of his season-long suspension and eventual ousting from the team between 2022-23. Boston provided a brief statement on the matter and didn't answer many questions at the press conference, nearly 500 days ago now, for legal reasons. Players empathized with media in a rare moment to begin training camp, with Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart sounding the most exasperated about the loss of the head coach who led the players to the NBA Finals months earlier. 

They didn't receive many more answers than anyone else. Until Udoka, the former head coach revealed on Saturday, let them know the reason himself.

“I would say they lied to you guys,” Udoka said. “They knew. Some of them knew. Obviously I could talk to them. They wouldn’t share stuff publicly. So, who needed to know knew.”

With the team having moved on under interim Joe Mazzulla, who became the head coach when the team later fired Udoka in February, Jayson Tatum provided some of the deepest perspective on Udoka's impact at the All Star Game the following week. He acknowledged, then, that he stayed in touch with the coach throughout his suspension. 

"It's been a tough situation for everyone involved," Tatum said. "Whatever happened, happened and that doesn't have anything to do with me, but I can't take away the relationship that me and him had, and the impact that he had on me in that one season. I love Coach K, I love Brad, I love Joe, I love all those guys, but it's just a different kind of relationship I had with Ime and (he's) probably my favorite coach I've had." 

Udoka returned to TD Garden as head coach of the Rockets to little fanfare despite making a lasting impact on the league-best Celtics he tried, unsuccessfully, to defeat with his up-and-coming Houston roster. The night, however, provided some perspective from Udoka on how his ousting went down and subdued appreciation and boos from fans in the stands. 

The Celtics started 18-21 in Udoka's lone season, winning 22-of-25 to secure the No. 2 seed in one of the great regular season turnarounds ever before overcoming a 2-3 hole in the second round against Milwaukee before advancing to the NBA Finals by winning two Game 7s. Many of the principles he helped enact remained into Mazzulla's second season while Udoka is a coach of the year candidate in Houston. 

Under Udoka, the Celtics assembled a star-studded coaching staff that included current Jazz head coach Will Hardy, assistant Ben Sullivan, who followed Udoka to Houston after playing a role in Derrick White's development, Georgia Tech head coach Damon Stoudamire, along with maintaining Brad Stevens hires who remain in Tony Dobbins and Mazzulla, then a development coach alongside Garrett Jackson and Mike Moser, who also returned to Boston as Udoka assistants as members of that 2022. They collectively instituted a switching-heavy defense that the team still leans on, a culture of collective and open accountability and pushed Brown and Tatum into ball-handling roles while trying to expand their vocal roles. 

Despite that -- Udoka's bold criticism of the team became the public-facing leadership associated with the team. Everyone had to pick up the pieces without him, especially Mazzulla, who compared stepping into Udoka's shoes to deciding after his playing career ended whether he wanted to coach like his former college coaches Bob Huggins or John Beilein. He chose elements from Udoka and Brad Stevens. 

"You look at guys and coaches around the league who don’t get experiences working for multiple head coaches,” Mazzulla said pre-game on Thursday. "Now that I can sit here today, I’m grateful that I got to work for him, I’m grateful that I got to see another way to do things, because I was with Brad for three years and that was the only experience I had in the NBA. That was the only experience I had in the NBA. So, if I don’t get that opportunity to work for another coach who’s worked for multiple coaches, who’s been on benches for championships, who’s been in San Antonio, Philly, other stops and I don’t get to see how the league works and looking at it from a different perspective. I’m grateful for that year.”

The year Hardy and Mazzulla coached under Udoka positioned both to succeed Jazz head coach Quin Snyder as top candidates in 2022 before Udoka's suspension. Mazzulla reflected on that process last week too, noting he probably didn't get the job because he wasn't prepared for a question about how he would run an organization. Hardy won, in part, by acknowledging he didn't know everything and the promise became acceptable for an Utah team preparing for a rebuild. His departure positioned Mazzulla as the interim in Boston days before training camp, unable to instill his footprint and forced to rally a team that reportedly never got over the Udoka departure last year. 

Udoka, whatever his offense, left the team in a near-impossible position to return to the Finals. That left as many fans scornful on Saturday as they were thankful for the growth he spurned during the team's most successful season of the past decade. The lessons they learned then show in Tatum and Brown's continued growth as playmakers, the defense that continues to lean on individual efforts, changing matchups and a focus on taking away threes and the rim by consistently dropping the big man. No layer to that defense proved more than roaming Robert Williams III away from a weaker offensive player to help protect the rim. That's a dynamic the team had to search for since trading Williams III in September. 

"Some things are similar, some things are different," Celtics assistant D.J. MacLeay, who Udoka originally hired, told Boston Sports Journal last week comparing how Boston used Williams III then to Kristaps Porziņģis now. "He's a different player and I think that using both of their skillsets has been something that we've tried to do defensively. The reality is, I think as a team and as a group, we're trying to find solutions, schematically, both for (Porzingis) and for our team that are best game-to-game, and I think we've done a good job of that and I think he's embraced that, which includes him doing different things matchup-wise, him being in different coverages. I think that's a huge weapon for us and something we've tried to emphasize." 

While Udoka deserves credit for adding to Boston's defensive system, Hardy emphasized not giving that staff total credit for what they built in Boston. He acknowledged in his latest return to the Garden that they built on many of the principles Stevens enacted as coach. Mazzulla agreed, noting that the Celtics previously followed a rules-based system when he joined the team that built in answers for every problem they might see on the defensive end. Boston guarded each opposing offensive set the same way under Stevens, Mazzulla said, then those principles allowed the team to begin switching more often, and now described his defensive system as a blend of both styles. Mazzulla since added more zone and pressing looks to the team's arsenal. 

"I think Ime was great for us because we were used to playing in Brad's system," Brown said on Saturday. "Ime, when he came about, he made the system around us. It was see a play, make a play. He designed everything around what we did, and do best, and it empowered us to make more decisions. It was great for our development, because we were used to Brad, he'd think the game for you. Brad would prepare, make sure he'll call the plays. Ime was more like, figure it out, empowered us to go play, go hoop and be who we are. It was different for us, it definitely helped us grow as basketball players and even now with Joe, he's expanded on that as well. He's like a combination of the two, where it's like, you're empowering us but we also have to be the smarter, more prepared team." 

Al Horford acknowledged, when the Nets reportedly planned to hire Udoka in 2022, that challenge in moving past the frustration and confusion of Udoka's suspension was a real thing. They had to focus on their job, he stressed, but later said after the team's Game 7 loss to Miami that the team had a lot going on in 2023. He wished Udoka well upon his actual departure to Houston in April, White sharing a similar sentiment while Brown called the situation that happened in Boston unfortunate. Smart believed Udoka deserved a second chance, and while twice noting that the Celtics moved past the suspension during the playoffs, he still called it an emotional situation. Smart told Andscape last month that the suspension put a dent in last year's team.

When Udoka stepped on the podium after the Celtics lost Game 6 of the Finals to the Warriors, squandering a 2-1 lead and an opportunity to win a championship, he called the future bright, saying we're just getting started. Boston finally reached that point without him two seasons later, flashing offensive execution, defensive dominance and making the difficult roster changes that eluded the Celtics in 2022. For Udoka, spending 2022-23 away from the NBA allowed him to seek counseling, address his relationship with his son and take accountability for his actions. His Rockets entered their Saturday's loss at the Celtics ranked No. 6 in defense after a 29th-ranked effort one year ago. 

Sounding rejuvenated and emboldened in the forgiveness his former players lent him, he shared his largest regret. Not getting one more run in 2023.

"Job not finished," Udoka said when asked by Boston Sports Journal. "The relationships you build and the people you impact. That'd be the biggest thing, formed a lot of relationships within a year and obviously wanted a chance to run it back and do it again with the group you feel you could build and grow with. So, letting the people down, the players, the relationships I built with them, the coaches that came with me and everybody else that was impacted." 

"We've talked it out and I've seen a lot of these people throughout the summer and talk regularly, so we've moved past it. I was up front with the guys when the things happened, reached out to who I needed to and have a little comfort in guys knowing what happened and how it all went down. Then, obviously, made up with my coaches because they all came with me to Houston. So a lot of my guys are back with me and I talked to them throughout the year whenever I could, but wanted to give them space to do their thing, and that goes for the players as well." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta (15-23): Engaged with teams around the league about trading Dejounte Murray, including the Lakers and his former Spurs, with his value bolstered by the four-year, $114.1 million extension he signed last year that'll keep him locked with his new team through at least 2027. The Hawks are ready to move Murray, Woj said, after two seasons showed little cohesion between he and fellow star guard Trae Young. Murray's arrival didn't help solve the team's long-running defensive issues either, and a class of guards joining the team in the draft could've become the first signal that the back court could break up. The end coming this soon would be shocking though, especially if they send him back to San Antonio after originally giving them three firsts and a pick swap. Murray has also been linked to the 76ers and Knicks. 

Boston (30-9): Won their most impressive game of the season by coming back from down nine points with four minutes remaining to force overtime in an eventual win over the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum scored 20 points over the final nine minutes on a 32-16 run, finishing with 45 points in one of his finest regular season performances. The Celtics hit the hardest portion of their schedule yet, splitting a pair of road games in Indiana while getting blown out for the first time this season at Milwaukee the day following their Minnesota win. Joe Mazzulla sat the starters after halftime, already trailing by 37. 

“Everything’s about the players,” Mazzulla said. “You look at the intentions and the character of your team … I trust our character and I trust our team. You have to look at this and said, ok … is this a trend? Is this something you have to be concerned about? … the answer is no, no." 

Former assistant Damon Stoudamire and Marcus Smart reflected on Ime Udoka's departure from the team and how it impacted the 2022-23 season. 

Brooklyn (16-22): Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith could move ahead of the trade deadline for the right price, according to Michael Scotto, but the 3-and-D specialist could cost the equivalent of two first-round picks. Finney-Smith, 6-7 and 30-years-old, arrived in the Kyrie Irving trade last season and is averaging 9.6 PPG and 4.7 RPG while shooting 40.9% from three. He's signed for $13.4 million and has a 2025-26 player option, likely making him too expensive for the Celtics to acquire as their big wing that Brad Stevens mentioned as a need. 

Charlotte (8-28): LaMelo Ball returned on Friday night after missing 20 games with another ankle injury. Prior to that, he flashed more potential into his fourth season by averaging 24.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 8.2 APG on 38.8% 3PT. He'll no longer be required to cover his tattoo displaying his initials. 

Chicago (19-22): Still open to moving Zach LaVine, despite the guard's solid returns in three games back. He scored 15 and nine points, respectively, in wins over the Hornets while coming off the bench before posting 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and three steals to beat the Rockets. The Bulls have won four straight after dropping 4-of-6, overall 14-7 since their blowout In-Season Tournament loss at Boston. It's less likely that Chicago will embrace an all-out rebuild, holding out hope a deal could emerge to bolster the roster utilizing Lonzo Ball's $20.5-million salary. That could mean Alex Caruso remains with the team despite looking like the most impactful player likely to move before next month's deadline. Bulls fans booing the late GM Jerry Krause during his entry into the team's ring of honor on Friday received criticism from people across the basketball world. 

Dallas (23-17): Luka Dončić has helped the Mavs' emergence as a better defense recently, averaging 1.9 steals per game since his four alongside three blocks against Phoenix on Christmas. He's recorded a steal in each game since, along with 0.9 BPG, while scoring 36.1 PPG. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving continued his sensational play since returning from a foot injury, averaging 29.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 2.2 SPG and 1.0 BPG on 51.2% FG in six games and keying wins over the Timberwolves and Knicks. They began Saturday fifth in defense since Dec. 23, winning 7-of-11 over that stretch. 

They talked to the Raptors about a Pascal Siakam trade, according to Jake Fischer, citing Dallas sources who believe the forward could be the missing piece for the Mavs. 

Denver (27-13): Michael Malone called the Nuggets' next 10 games the toughest the team has faced in his time with the team after they pulled within 1.0 game of the Thunder and Timberwolves for the top seed in the west. The Nuggets travel to Philadelphia on Tuesday and Boston on Friday to start a five-game east coast trip. 

Detroit (3-36): Winning at an 0.079 pace after dropping seven straight games since their record-tying 28 game slump came to an end. Worse, Cade Cunningham went down with a left knee strain last Sunday in Denver and will miss 7-10 days before reevaluation. They're on pace for the worst regular season in NBA history if they can't begin racking up some wins, as the 2012 Bobcats already posted seven wins through 39 games before posting the worst winning percentage ever in the lockout-shortened season (66 games). Victor Wembanyama, who could've easily ended up here, pummeled them.

“I'm glad it is how it is,” he said after San Antonio's 130-108 win. "I remember that my attitude at the time was to think that it didn't matter where I went ... “After the lottery, I admitted to myself it did matter and it happened in the best way possible." 

Golden State (18-21): Steph Curry admitted the Warriors might need a shakeup as they approach the season's halfway point and deadline outside of the west playoff picture by 1.0 game. Curry looked exasperated along the sideline as Warriors fans booed the team during their 141-105 loss, a low point that signified deeper problems than Draymond Green's absence. Green will return soon after resuming team activities this week, admitting he considered retirement when the NBA suspended him indefinitely following his December dust-up with Jusuf Nurkic. Green received therapy and friend LeBron James checked in during his absence, Green revealed during his return to podcasting. Green added he's confident he can remove antics from his game.

"You get to a point where you're trying to explain it, trying to figure out what can change specifically that can help us," Curry said as the team's play continued to deteriorate without Green. "Those conversations are happening in between games, in film sessions, in the locker room. But it's headed in the opposite direction. I don't know what to say about it. We're not used to this vibe around our team. ... It all sucks."

Houston (19-19): Hanging onto a 1.0 game lead on their play-in tournament spot in the west despite losing 7-of-11. They ranked 17th in offense and defense over their last 15 games entering Boston on Saturday, seeing small successes under Ime Udoka and the remanence of their recent losing seasons. Dillon Brooks (oblique) returned after missing nine games while Tari Eason (leg) missed his seventh straight. They host Boston next Sunday.

Indiana (23-15): Won three straight to move into home-court position in the east, a run sparked by a controversial successful challenge at the end of the second game in their mini series with the Pacers. Buddy Hield admitted to reporters that he fouled Jaylen Brown with three seconds left in a tie game, a call on the floor reversed by the officials after Indiana challenged and confirmed by the league despite noting Hield made contact with Brown's head. The Pacers came back after losing the first game and trailing by 11 in the second, but lost Tyrese Haliburton in a scary-looking moment where he fell in the second quarter and couldn't get up after grabbing his hamstring. Tests revealed a Grade 1 strain and he's expected to miss at least two weeks. Rick Carlisle called it the best possible news.

Clippers (25-13): Signed Kawhi Leonard to a three-year, $153 million contract that came in slightly below his maximum in a week where the Clippers pulled within 2.0 games of the top of the west standings. Leonard and Paul George entered the season without new deals and eligible to become free agents this summer before trading for James Harden, who cannot be extended after picking up his player option and will enter free agency in July. Adrian Wojnarowski reported talks between George and LA continue while them inevitably retaining Harden will make the Clippers the foremost test of the league's new second apron restrictions that ramp up next season in an effort to prevent teams from spending at the rate LA owner Steve Ballmer has. His Intuit Dome in Inglewood opens next season and Shams Charania reported after the Leonard extension that it'll host the 2026 All-Star Game, which the Celtics reportedly expressed interest in bidding for having not hosted the game since 1964. 

Lakers (19-21): Will float the D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura salary package alongside draft capital everywhere in search of upgrades while trade partners inevitably counter by asking for Austin Reaves. Jake Fischer and others have noted that LA will not part with Reaves while the Lakers surprised last deadline by returning good value headlined by Russell for Russell Westbrook and a first-round pick. They need shooting more than any other team.

Memphis (14-25): Ja Morant underwent surgery this week on a labrum tear in his right shoulder that ended his season after only nine games where he averaged 25.1 PPG and 8.1 APG, winning six games and reinvigorating the Grizzlies' playoff hopes. Those appear all but dead now, especially with Marcus Smart going down again with a right ring finger injury expected to sideline him for roughly six weeks. Desmond Bane injured his ankle in Friday's loss to the Clippers. Bane couldn't shoot free throws on the play, disqualifying him for the game and Taylor Jenkins didn't know the extent of the injury after. The timeline on Smart's latest ailment eliminates him from playing in his return to TD Garden on Feb. 4 -- three weeks from Sunday. 

Miami (22-16): Signed head coach Erik Spoelstra to an extension that makes him the highest-paid coach in the NBA, eight years, $120 million, following similar record deals signed by Monty Williams in Detroit and Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. The deal also tops any signed by a coach in the NFL, NHL or MLB, but will still slightly trail Popovich's $19-million annual salary. Spoelstra began his Miami career in 1995 as a video coordinator for Pat Riley. He's won two championships since becoming head coach in 2008, reached two NBA Finals over the past four seasons and took the Celtics to seven games in each of the past two east finals. He's juggled lineups again this year, using over 20 starting units, with Jimmy Butler (toe) out recently and Tyler Herro (shoulder) joining him on the bench on Friday as Miami beat Orlando. 

Milwaukee (27-12): Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Mikal Beasley blew away the Celtics in their second meeting on Thursday after losing 4-of-5 and nearly dropping the fifth to San Antonio. Damian Lillard hit two early threes as he returned from missing the Bucks' loss to Utah. Milwaukee ranks second in offense and 19th in defense, raising questions about Adrian Griffin midway through his first season, but the team has rallied around each other publicly to figure it out with their new-look group, Friday's win keeping them within 3.0 games of the east's top seed despite their struggles. Bucks champion Jrue Holiday made his first return to Milwaukee since the team traded him for Lillard in September, setting up his move to Boston. 

Minnesota (27-11): Believe it or not -- their collapse late in Boston on Wednesday extended a streak of losses at TD Garden extending back to 2005. They haven't swept the season series against the Celtics, as they had the chance to on that night, since 2000. Those droughts continued with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jaden McDaniels leading a defensive effort where the Timberwolves fouled far too often. Anthony Edwards struggled to shake Jaylen Brown's defense late and while Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley sat out, along with the team arriving at 1 p.m. on the day of the game due to weather, the late meltdown resembled some of the team's worst losses in the Towns era. They still lead the west and got back on track by pummeling Portland on Friday. 

"We should have won this game, all credit to the Celtics they took it from us," head coach Chris Finch said. "We did everything we wanted to do to put ourselves in a position to win and our offense broke down at the end and so did our defense too."

New York (23-16): The Knicks' surge since adding OG Anunoby, five straight wins before losing on Thursday to Dallas, came with hope that Mitchell Robinson (ankle) could potentially return before the end of the season. Initial reports indicated his surgery would end his year, and New York accordingly applied for a $7.8-million disabled player exception that's normally a formality after a player suffers an injury likely to sideline them for the season. The NBA instead denied the request, ruling that Robinson could probably return late in the regular season. That return would be welcome, though make for difficult timing for him to impact the team in the postseason. Isaiah Hartenstein remains a sturdy backup option. 

Oklahoma City (27-11): Tied with the Timberwolves atop the west and moved within 2.5 games of the Celtics for the best record in the league by scoring the largest win in franchise history by 62 points over the Trail Blazers on Thursday. The Thunder shattered their previous 45-point mark by beating Portland 139-77, the fifth-largest blowout in NBA history. The win came almost two years to the day that Oklahoma City made history in the opposite direction, falling by 73 in the worst defeat ever in the league. Several members of this year's roster suffered and played in that loss. 

"After that game, we addressed it, and we just made a promise to ourselves to never feel that feeling again," Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I think it's been a little bit of our fuel to get to where we are tonight."

Philadelphia (24-13): Joel Embiid missed three more games this week, sidelined in seven recently, due to nagging knee swelling that's now left him out of 10 games this season. That positions Embiid to play in 72 games at most this year, falling dangerously close to the 65-game threshold the league and player's union enacted to become eligible for awards like MVP. Embiid's productivity in the first half of the season placed him alongside Nikola Jokic again as co-favorites for the award, and while the rule provides some leeway and exceptions rather than a hard line, Embiid the Sixers know games played is a factor now, but can't control it. Meanwhile - former 76ers head coach Doc Rivers shed light on one challenge about working with Daryl Morey.

Phoenix (20-18): Chris Haynes reported they're set at point guard despite the thin position forcing Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to do most of the team's facilitating through their uneven start. Phoenix, with its limited resources, will instead pursue an athletic wing to help the team's defense. Durant, despite reported frustrations unthinkably raising questions about his Suns future already, said he does not want a trade from the team this week. 

“I don’t want to get traded,” Durant said on Monday. “I’m not frustrated because Brad (Beal) was injured. I wasn’t frustrated because of the role players on the team. That s*** really was ignorant to me, you know what I’m saying?”

San Antonio (7-31): Victor Wembanyama makes his first trip to Boston on Wednesday after recording his first triple-double this week against the Pistons, with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He'll sit against the Bulls on Saturday, with the team managing his minutes and use in back-to-backs cautiously in his first season, but he said he hopes to play more often soon and Wednesday's game in Boston comes over two days after his Monday afternoon game in Atlanta. 

Toronto (15-24): A Pascal Siakam trade appears imminent before next month's trade deadline and while the Raptors and Kings neared a deal last week, Siakam's unwillingness to re-sign with Sacramento reportedly thwarted talks between the two sides. His impending free agency also creates some urgency for the team to address his future in the coming weeks, especially after losing Fred VanVleet for nothing last summer. Chris Haynes noted that the Raptors are on the verge of moving Siakam, who's played for them since 2016. His departure would be the final from the 2019 title team's starting unit.