The Boston Celtics are currently struggling to keep up in the playoffs, and as a result, issues surrounding the team are being brought to light. One such issue is the players’ apparent unhappiness with the departure of former head coach Ime Udoka.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski spoke about the situation, revealing that the players have yet to come to terms with Udoka’s firing. Udoka had led the Celtics to a strong finish in the NBA Finals last year, but was suspended by the franchise for an improper relationship with a team staffer. He was then released in mid-February and replaced by Joe Mazzulla.
Wojnarowski stated, “These players did not accept the organization’s reasoning for doing it. They thought it was a wild overreaction. There are a lot of people on the outside who thought it was an overreaction. It was an HR matter.”
The Celtics have since had a top-two regular season record under Mazzulla, but their inability to perform well in the playoffs has led to criticism. However, Wojnarowski clarified that the players’ dissatisfaction with Udoka’s dismissal did not mean they were dissatisfied with Mazzulla’s management as head coach.
The players reportedly became upset when the Brooklyn Nets attempted to hire Udoka as their head coach early this season and again when the Houston Rockets ultimately hired him in April. Despite these reactions from the players, the Rockets went ahead and tapped Udoka as their new head coach.
“That doesn’t mean they haven’t accepted Joe Mazzulla as head coach, but this is a team that really believed in Ime Udoka, had a strong connection with him,” Wojnarowski said. “I think there were a couple of instances this season where a lot of angst resurfaced.”