In the newest episode of Men in Pro Sports Behaving Inappropriately – it’s an unlucky unending sequence – the Boston Celtics suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season for “violations of team policies.”
The assertion from Boston didn’t element these violations, but Udoka had a consensual relationship with a workforce staffer, an individual aware of the state of affairs instructed USA TODAY Sports. The individual requested anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to converse publicly concerning the delicate nature of the subject.
How a lot credit score the Celtics deserve for his or her suspension of Udoka is undetermined. If the consensual relationship did not turn out to be public by way of the media reporting it, who is aware of if they might’ve simply stored the problem in-house and handled it internally. Perhaps they deliberate to suspend Udoka regardless.
But as soon as it grew to become public, the Celtics acted, and it was vital, accepting no matter damaging fallout there’s. (Before this proceeds, sure, it’s inconceivable to ignore the optics of Phoenix Suns and Mercury proprietor Robert Sarver receiving an identical suspension for almost 20 years of unacceptable workplace conduct. I can solely say Sarver’s penalty from the NBA ought to’ve been extra harsh, and in Udoka’s case, it’s the workforce making the choice and never the league.)
CELTICS DECISION: Udoka suspended for season for violations of workforce insurance policies
MEET JOE MAZZULLA: Who is the Celtics’ new interim head coach after Ime Udoka’s suspension?
SPORTS NEWSLETTER: Sign up now to get prime sports activities headlines delivered day by day
This is a uncommon punishment. It’s not usually a workforce suspends a coach for any size of time. It’s often the league suspending a coach for an incident with a referee or an off-court authorized subject reminiscent of a DUI.
Whatever one might take into consideration the personal lives of two adults, what a workforce – or a enterprise – cannot have is an individual in energy having that sort of relationship with somebody who is taken into account in broad phrases a subordinate and definitely not an equal on the org chart.
That’s why there are guidelines towards that in lots of workplaces. Not solely are executives not allowed to have intimate relationships with these decrease on the org chart, in the event that they’re having a relationship with somebody in one other division or on the identical degree, it should be disclosed.
TV govt Jeff Zucker misplaced his job at CNN as a result of he failed to disclose a romantic relationship with one other CNN govt, and then-Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gerson Rosas was fired one 12 months in the past for an inappropriate relationship with a colleague.
In Udoka’s case, there are too many detrimental dynamics at play reminiscent of energy, affect and workplace morale. Even when it’s two consenting adults, the individual with the ability wants to be the one who makes the best determination.
Udoka, 45, did not do this, and several other lives have been upended and careers presumably ruined, together with Udoka’s.
He was a unbelievable first-time NBA head coach final season with the Celtics, main them to a stable 51-31 file after a 23-24 begin. Boston gained two Game 7s within the Eastern Conference playoffs and misplaced to Golden State in six video games within the Finals.
With a fiery demeanor that’s the reverse of a number of new coaches, Udoka earned the respect of gamers. Udoka might by no means coach one other sport for the Celtics, and if that is the case, it might be a very long time earlier than he is an NBA head coach once more. He additionally jeopardized the private life {and professional} livelihood of one other individual.
While successful basketball isnt a very powerful facet of this disaster, his actions are a detriment to the franchise’s popularity and potential for achievement on the court docket. Celtics possession and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens had immense delight in hiring Udoka and letting his teaching potential shine.
He additionally let down these gamers who trusted him and anticipated him to assist them get again to the Finals this season. He presumably destroyed Boston’s season earlier than it began. Winning the improved East wasn’t going to be simple in the very best of circumstances this season, and now they may strive to do this towards the omnipresent backdrop of Udoka’s errors.
If there’s one franchise within the league that might handle the disaster and nonetheless make use of Udoka, it’s the Celtics. There is a major quantity of institutional spine. But even of their assertion asserting the suspension, they gave a foreboding message: “A decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date.”
Trust was breached, and it is probably not repaired.
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt
This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Celtics coach Ime Udoka’s job in jeopardy but Boston had no choice