Nets hiring Celtics’ Ime Udoka as head coach after Steve Nash firing

The Brooklyn Nets have swung the axe after a disastrous start to their season - and their next move is expected to be even more dramatic.

Steve Nash (L) has been fired by the Nets, with Ime Udoka expected to take over. Pic: Getty

All signs point to Ime Udoka as the next coach of the Brooklyn Nets, the NY Post reports.

The Nets fired Steve Nash on Wednesday morning (AEDT) amid a disappointing 2-5 start that has been marred by off-court drama, including Kyrie Irving’s social media promotion of an anti-Semitic film.

Aussie former No. 1 draft pick Ben Simmons has also struggled this season in his first games with the Nets since being traded from Philadelphia.

The team’s interim head coach is Jacque Vaughn.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania both reported that the Nets plan to hire Udoka to replace Nash.

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The Boston Celtics will not seek compensation from the Brooklyn Nets and will allow Ime Udoka to move on, league sources tell @NBAonTNT.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 1, 2022

Suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka has emerged as the likely next Brooklyn Nets head coach and his hiring could be finalized as soon as the next 24-to-48 hours, sources tell ESPN. Celtics will let him leave for another job.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 1, 2022

Ime Udoka has emerged as a strong frontrunner to be the next Brooklyn Nets head coach and the sides have begun discussions, sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium. Nets are in the midst of their search process and are continuing to do due diligence.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 1, 2022

Udoka was suspended by the Celtics for at least a year after an investigation revealed that he had an affair with a female subordinate.

Charania reported in The Athletic that Udoka also made “unwanted comments” to the woman, and Wojnarowski reported that the coach used “crude language.”

Wojnarowski added that the Celtics would permit Udoka to leave for a different job.

Udoka was an assistant on the Nets two years ago; last year, in his first season as Celtics head coach, Boston reached the NBA Finals.

Head Coach Ime Udoka of the Boston Celtics talks with Marcus Smart #36 against the Miami Heat during the third quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

In October, speaking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith theorised that one of the reasons the Celtics suspended Udoka rather than firing him was that they were worried he would become the head coach of the rival Nets.

“I believe part of the reason he was suspended, not fired, is because the Boston Celtics did not want him to end up in Brooklyn,” Smith said.

“I believe that Ime Udoka, had he gotten fired, with all the stuff that happened — remember, the operative words were ‘consensual relationship, violation of organisation policy!’ So because it’s that, it’s about your behaviour, which we don’t endorse, as opposed to a crime.

Head coach Steve Nash talks with Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets as referee Dannica Mosher #89 looks on during the first half against the Toronto Raptors. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

“And because there was nothing that was put out there that said it was a crime, I believe that if Ime Udoka had been fired by the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets would’ve fired Steve Nash and brought that brother back and he would be the coach for the Brooklyn Nets right now. That’s how emphatic I am about this.”

While Smith said that this was speculation and not sourced reporting, it now looks like there may have been fire where there was smoke.

This article first appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Nets hiring Celtics’ Ime Udoka as head coach after Steve Nash firing