Rockets Introduce Coach Ime Udoka, however Say Little About His Misconduct

The Houston Rockets proprietor Tilman Fertitta requested followers to be forgiving on Wednesday as he launched the staff’s new head coach, Ime Udoka, who had been suspended after which fired by the Boston Celtics inside the previous 12 months for violating unspecified staff insurance policies.

Fertitta stated any critic unwilling to offer Udoka a second likelihood was “not a good Christian person.”

The Celtics suspended Udoka for the 2022-23 N.B.A. season in September, then fired him in February, after he had a relationship with a feminine subordinate, in line with an individual with information of the scenario who was not licensed to debate it publicly.

At the introductory news convention in Houston, Udoka made his first public feedback since leaving the Celtics, who’ve declined to specify which insurance policies he violated. Udoka was flanked by Fertitta and Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone, who additionally declined to offer particulars on what they know, together with whether or not they had seen the report from the Celtics’ investigation.

“What I would say is that we got comfortable that it was an appropriate hire and that we were comfortable in the process,” Stone stated. “But just the same way, I wouldn’t talk about exactly what we did with anybody else, I’m not going to talk about it with Ime. It’s just, in my view, it’s not appropriate.”

Udoka stated that he had been “working on myself in a lot of different ways,” together with by present process counseling and sensitivity coaching, and that he can be a greater individual, chief, father and coach because of this.

“I released a statement months ago when everything happened and, you know, apologized to a lot of people for the tough position I put them in,” Udoka stated. “And I stand by that and I feel much more remorse even now towards that.”

He added, “But the situation — the matter — has been resolved and I can’t really speak much about it.”

Fertitta stated that he was notably snug with hiring Udoka after conversations with the N.B.A. “We’re a forgiving society and everybody makes mistakes and you know, some things, maybe we shouldn’t forgive people for,” he stated. “But I think what happened and his personal situation is definitely something to be forgiven for.”

In a gathering with sports activities editors on Tuesday, N.B.A. Commissioner Adam Silver stated that he was OK with groups hiring Udoka, although he stated he didn’t know if Houston officers had seen the investigation report.

Asked if the Celtics made the best determination to self-discipline him, Udoka stated, “My part in it was to take ownership and accountability.”

“I served a suspension and I had to own it, honestly,” Udoka stated. “So, same thing I’ll preach to the guys. I can’t sit here and not take accountability to myself. So it was their right to go about it however they wanted to. And that’s the choice they took.”

Udoka performed seven seasons within the N.B.A., largely as a reserve, earlier than changing into a revered assistant coach for practically a decade. The Celtics employed him to be their head coach earlier than the 2021-22 season. His first — and solely — season with Boston was a hit: He helped lead the Celtics to the N.B.A. finals, the place they misplaced to Golden State. Now, he’ll be taking on a Rockets staff that has been one of many league’s worst during the last three years. But Houston has important wage cap area at its disposal, gifted younger gamers and high-value draft picks.