Month: September 2022

The Boston Celtics announced Thursday night that they have suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the upcoming 2022-23 season, citing violations of team policies in its announcement. Sources told Andrian Wojnarowski of ESPN that the suspension is related to Udoka’s role in an intimate relationship with a female member of the franchise’s staff, which is considered a violation of the Celtics’ guidelines. The suspension is effective immediately, with a decision about Udoka’s future with the organization to be determined at a later date.  Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will take over as interim head coach

Udoka said in a statement: “I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down. I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

The 45-year-old  Udoka previously served as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs (2012-19), Philadelphia 76ers (2019-20) and Nets (2020-21) following a seven-year playing career in the NBA. Udoka was hired to be the Celtics’ head coach in June 2021, replacing Brad Stevens after he went on to become Boston’s president of basketball operations.  In his first season in Boston, Udoka led the team to 51 wins – going 26-6 in the final 32 games – and their first NBA Finals appearance since the 2010 season. The Celtics lost the title series to the Golden State Warriors in six games.

Udoka is engaged to actress Nia Long, and the couple share one child together.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Shakur Stevenson will be stripped of his WBO and WBC featherweight titles after failing to make weight ahead of his matchup with Robson Conceição on Friday. The undefeated Stevenson (18-0) is facing a fine from the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, and potentially some of the $3 million fight purse he’s set to earn. Stevenson, 25, said Thursday on Twitter that he’s no longer capable of hitting 130 pounds: “I gave it my all. I’ve been professional my whole career and made weight, but my body just can’t make 130 anymore. My health has to come first. I’m moving up to 135 in my next fight.”

Conceição will still be eligible to claim both titles with a win. Friday’s event is taking place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and per ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, “Top Rank is attempting to find a solution so Stevenson and Conceição can still fight in the ESPN main event.” The 33-year-old Conceição (17-1) will have his second title shot on Friday. In Sept. 2021 he lost by decision to Oscar Valdez, who had tested positive for a banned substance in the lead-up to the fight but was still allowed to participate.

Editorial credit: katatonia82 / Shutterstock.com

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball  has been dealing with some lingering knee issues after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee in January, that caused him to miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Now, the Bulls have announced that Ball will undergo an arthroscopic debridement of his left knee on Wednesday, September 28 in Los Angeles, California, and will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks.

Ball, a former No. 2 overall pick, has played just 35 games for Chicago since signing a four-year, $80 million deal with the team in 2021. He has continued to deal with discomfort and pain in his left knee following his original meniscus surgery, and was unable to resume full basketball activities this offseason due to discomfort. Ball will now miss the start of the 2022-23 season for the Bulls, and it is likely that he may not be ready to make his season debut until sometime around Thanksgiving, assuming he is fully healthy by then.

Without Lonzo Ball, Chicago will now turn to Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and veteran Goran Dragic to carry the load in the backcourt.  Further updates on Ball’s status will be provided by the Bulls at a further date.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Robert Sarver, the majority owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WBA’s Phoenix Mercury, said on Wednesday that he would be selling both teams, following a one-year suspension by the league for creating a hostile work environment that included racist and sexist allegations.

In a written statement, Sarver announced he was beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury: “Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organizations that brought people together—and strengthened the Phoenix area—through the unifying power of professional men’s and women’s basketball. As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness. I expected that the commissioner’s one-year suspension would provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I and so many fans love. It has become painfully clear that that is no longer possible—that whatever good I have done, or could still do, is outweighed by things I have said in the past. For those reasons, I am beginning the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.” He continued: “I do not want to be a distraction to these two teams and the fine people who work so hard to bring the joy and excitement of basketball to fans around the world. I want what’s best for these two organizations, the players, the employees, the fans, the community, my fellow owners, the NBA and the WNBA. This is the best course of action for everyone.”

The NBA suspended Sarver on Sept. 13 and fined him $10 million after conducting an independent investigation into racist and sexist conduct. The investigation came after an ESPN article last year highlighted workplace abuses, and included interviews with 70 former and current Suns employees who said Sarver created a “toxic and sometimes hostile workplace” over his 17 years owning the team and included charges of racism and sexism.

Sarver said he believed an “unforgiving climate” would not allow him to continue as the owner once his suspension was over: “In the meantime, I will continue to work on becoming a better person, and continuing to support the community in meaningful ways. Thank you for continuing to root for the Suns and the Mercury, embracing the power that sports has to bring us together.”

Editorial credit: Sportspics84 / Shutterstock.com