ESPN star suggests Ime Udoka situation amplified because of race, accuses Celtics of leaking info

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Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka reportedly facing a suspension for having an intimate relationship with a female staffer within the organization upset sports personality Stephen A. Smith on Thursday.

Reports of Udoka potentially being suspended for the season over it broke between late Wednesday and early Thursday. Smith on ESPN’s "First Take" gave a passionate defense of Udoka, saying there were "plenty of White folks in professional sports doing their thing — and I say that not complimentary."

He accused the Celtics of putting information "out there."

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Stephen A. Smith looks on before a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston on Nov. 19, 2021. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Smith continued: "I don’t see the information out about them. Why we talking about this now? We got to talk about it because it’s the news. Ain’t none of our damn business unless you fire him. But if you keep him, it’s none of our business. It should’ve never been put out there by the Celtics organization. And don’t tell me you didn’t do it because you absolutely did it because news reporters got it, and it emanated out of Boston."

Later in the show, Smith suggested the information about Udoka was "being put out" because of his race.

"I’m appalled by this decision. If you’re not going to fire him, he shouldn’t be suspended. You can dock pay, you can fine him, you can keep the stuff in-house. I’m appalled this is publicized. … I know of plenty of situations spanning the entire world of professional sports, not just the NBA … where folks are messing around with each