The Boston Celtics have suspended coach Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season, effective immediately, and with no guarantee he will be back with the franchise.
The Celtics said Thursday night that Udoka was suspended for "violations of team policies." Earlier Thursday, two people with knowledge of the matter said Udoka was being sanctioned because of an improper relationship with a member of the organization.
Those people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not reveal that detail publicly. "A decision about his future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date," the Celtics said.
Udoka, in a statement published by ESPN, apologized but did not offer detail. One of the people who spoke with The AP said Celtics assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will take over on an interim basis.