Ime Udoka revealed that he underwent sensitivity training and counseling with his son after losing his job with the Celtics over a workplace affair.
Udoka, 45, was announced Monday as the new head coach of the Rockets, and spoke to reporters on Wednesday along with team owner Tilman Fertitta and GM Rafael Stone.
Fertitta opened the presser with remarks about how he did “due diligence” on the coaching hire, before Udoka took questions.
“Like Tilman alluded to, they’ve done their due diligence and homework on who I am as a person, and I think that we spent quality time together and getting to know each other and clicked pretty easily and pretty well,” Udoka said.
“Overall, I released a statement months ago, when everything happened, and apologized to a lot of people for the tough position that I put them in, and I stand by that. I feel much more remorse, even now, towards that. I spent this last offseason working on myself in a lot of different ways, improving in areas, a chance to sit back and reflect and grow, and I think that will make me a better coach and leader.
“But, the situation’s been resolved, and I can’t really speak much about it.”
Udoka was initially suspended for the whole 2022-23 season by the Celtics after the affair became public in September, and was ultimately fired in February.
This was the first time Udoka has spoken publicly about the situation.
Fertitta said that he got the green light from the NBA before formalizing the hire.
“The NBA told me that they feel very comfortable with Ime becoming coach of the Houston Rockets, and so that made me feel good after a lengthy, lengthy conversation with them,” Fertitta said.
Asked about what he did to work on himself, Udoka said that he underwent leadership and sensitivity training and did counseling with his son “to help him improve in the situation that I put him in.”
Udoka shares a son with actress Nia Long, who was his longtime girlfriend prior to the coach’s affair becoming publicized.
The couple’s breakup was reported in December.
Udoka led the Celtics to a surprising NBA Finals berth last season, and was replaced as head coach of the team by former assistant Joe Mazzula.
The Rockets went 22-60 this past season — finishing 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference — and fired head coach Stephen Silas after three seasons with the team.