• Loading stock data...
Sunday, July 13, 2025

First-Year HC Ime Udoka Has Led Celtics’ Resurgence

  • Ime Udoka built a reputation as a defensive guru in nine seasons as an assistant coach.
  • Now in his first year as a head coach, Boston has the league’s best defense and a lethal duo.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports/Design: John Regula

In his first season, Ime Udoka has the seventh-best odds (+3000*) to win Coach of the Year, and the Celtics have the seventh-best odds (+1200*) to win the Finals. Both feel terribly miscalculated.

On Dec. 29, Boston was the 9-seed fighting to maintain a play-in spot. After a fourth straight win on Monday, Boston is the 4-seed in the East, just 2.5 games back of conference-leading Miami.

As an assistant, Udoka made his reputation as a defensive guru, but he’s also getting the most out of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, with whom he developed a strong relationship as an assistant with Team USA this past summer.

  • The Celtics are first in defensive rating (105.8), OPP PPG (103.8), OPP FG% (43%), and OPP 3PT (33.8%).
  • In their last 26 games, the Celtics are 22-4 with 13 wins against playoff teams.
  • On Sunday, Tatum and Brown became the first pair of Celtics to score 30+ points in back-to-back games since Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in 1988.

In November, Boston was reportedly talking to Philadelphia about potentially breaking up the duo and flipping Brown for Simmons. 

With Tatum and Brown jelling, the league’s best defense, and Udoka at the helm, the C’s ceiling is perhaps its highest since they made the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals.

Ime Udoka earned $3.5 million in five full seasons as an NBA player, and while his current salary is unknown, he’s likely made more in his first season as Celtics head coach. 

What is certain is that Udoka is exceeding expectations in Boston.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Alex Rodriguez

Finally in Charge, A-Rod Says Timberwolves Need New Arena

Rodriguez and Lore would like to repair team relations with Kevin Garnett.
Jeff Kaplan

Letting PE Invest in Family-Owned Teams Is a ‘Watershed’

Liquidity gives owners greater flexibility to manage salary cap.
Jul 10, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter of their game at Thomas & Mack Center.

Cooper Flagg Makes Mavericks, New Balance Debut in Win Over Bronny

Thursday marked Flagg’s first game donning New Balance shoes.

Jalen Williams Signs Max Deal As Thunder Commit $822M to 3 Stars

Oklahoma City also extended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Featured Today

May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.
July 11, 2025

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
Jordan Ott
June 4, 2025

Mat Ishbia Goes Back to Michigan State Again in Quest to Fix..

Phoenix has now hired its coach and GM from the MSU tree.
Udoka
June 11, 2025

Knicks Striking Out on Big-Name Tom Thibodeau Replacements So Far

Three teams have denied the Knicks permission to interview their coaches.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Alex Jensen introductory press conference on Monday, March 17, 2025.
June 3, 2025

Alex Jensen Started Utah Utes HC Job While Still Coaching the Mavs

How Jensen began building an NCAA program while patrolling the Dallas sideline.
Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick holds up the sweatshirt worn by his father when he was an assistant coach at New North Carolina Tar Heels new at Loudermilk Center for Excellence.
June 2, 2025

Bill Belichick’s Buyout at UNC Dropped by $9 Million on Sunday

Belichick’s buyout dropped from $10 million to $1 million on Sunday.
Giraldez
May 30, 2025

Is Coach Moving In Michele Kang’s Soccer Empire A Sign For NWSL?

Kang is another owner taking on a multi-club model.
May 14, 2025

The Highest-Paid NFL Offensive Coordinators

Todd Monken of the Ravens and Mike Kafka of the Giants both earn an estimated $3 million annually.