Former Nigerian-American basketball player, Ime Udoka has been hired by the Boston Celtics as the head coach in National Basketball Association (NBA).
According to the Associated Press on Wednesday, the hiring was first reported by ESPN even as the deal had not been officially announced by the club.
This makes the retired basketball player, Udoka, to be the first Nigerian to become a head coach in NBA’s history.
What To Know About Udoka
Ime Sunday Udoka is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Udoka’s father, who is of Akwa Ibom descent, was born in Nigeria which qualified him (Udoka) for Nigerian citizenship.
Udoka was a member of the Nigerian national team, for whom he played at the 2006 FIBA World Championships. His older sister Mfon used to play in the WNBA. His mother, who died in late 2011, was an American from Illinois.
Udoka, a small forward, attended Portland’s Jefferson High School, and the University of San Francisco, before transferring to Portland State University where he starred for the Vikings.
He started his professional basketball career by playing in the NBDL with the Charleston Lowgators who drafted him with 39th overall pick in 2002 NBDL Draft.
He was called up to play with the Los Angeles Lakers on January 14, 2004, but was later waived. After a stint in Europe, he returned to the states and once again drafted in NBDL. This time he was drafted 3rd overall by Fort Worth Flyers in 2005 NBDL Draft.
He averaged 17.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game with the Flyers. On April 6, 2006, Udoka was signed by the New York Knicks. Udoka was waived by the Knicks on September 11, 2006.
Udoka was the last player invited to his hometown Portland Trail Blazers training camp before the 2006–07 season, getting the invitation only after Aaron Miles failed a physical.
Despite the death of his father during the preseason, Udoka impressed the coaching staff with his defensive skills and made the team.
After having played in only 12 NBA games in his career, Udoka started in 75 games played in the 2006–07 season. He played 28.6 minutes per game while averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals.
In 2007, Udoka signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He played in 73 games averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 18 minutes. On his second season with the Spurs, Udoka played in 67 games, and started in three. He averaged 4.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes.
Following the 2009 season, Udoka became a free agent, eventually re-signing with the Trail Blazers. He was waived by the Blazers on October 22, 2009, but signed with the Sacramento Kings on November 4, 2009. He played 69 games with the Kings, averaging 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.
On November 24, 2010, Udoka rejoined the Spurs, but he was waived on January 5, 2011 after playing only 20 games.
On December 15, 2011, Udoka signed with the New Jersey Nets. However, he was waived on December 23, 2011.
In January 2012, he signed with UCAM Murcia of the Spanish Liga ACB.
In August 2012, Udoka joined the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach.
Udoka would won his first championship after the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals 4–1.
He was also the key for LaMarcus Aldridge’s decision to join the Spurs in 2015.
Both Udoka and Aldridge played together with the Trail Blazers during Aldridge’s rookie season.
In June 2019, Udoka was hired as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
On October 30, 2020, the Brooklyn Nets hired Udoka as an assistant coach.
