The Brooklyn Nets were expected to hire Ime Udoka, but the controversy surrounding Kyrie Irving and his eventual five-game suspension appears to have made taking on another off the court issue untenable. Udoka is currently suspended for the 22-23 season by the Boston Celtics for an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
“As the Kyrie Irving situation continued to unfold, it became too perilous of a path to also hire Ime Udoka in the aftermath of his suspension and essentially ouster with the Boston Celtics,” said Adrian Wojnarowski.
“I think as they started to really dig into their coaching search and make a decision on whether this organization could absorb that much drama, turmoil and upheaval. Especially as the Irving situation played out.
“They saw Jacque Vaughn start to stabilize things…
The Nets believe Udoka will be hired elsewhere at some point in the future.
“They did their research and their due diligence on the circumstances around his suspension in Boston. I think Brooklyn believes there’s probably going to be another team that does hire Udoka. But Brooklyn did not believe they were in a position where they could do it.