Joe Mazzulla, the head coach of the Boston Celtics, was suspended for the whole NBA season on Thursday due to violations of team policies.

The Celtics indicated in a statement that they would make a decision regarding his future with the franchise after this season.

The suspension is effective right away.

The Celtics did not explain what Udoka’s policy infractions were.

The 45-year-old Nigerian-American reportedly violated the team’s code of conduct by having a consensual relationship with a female employee of the Boston Celtics, according to reports from ESPN and The Athletic.

The Celtics’ preseason training camp is set to begin next week, and the team has been handed one of the worst punishments ever handed to an NBA head coach.

Udoka expressed regret for disappointing his family, the Celtics organization, the players, and the fans. I apologize for placing the squad in this challenging circumstance, and I respect their choice.

I will refrain from making any more comments out of respect for all parties concerned.

According to ESPN, Joe Mazzulla, the assistant coach, will serve as the interim coach for the 2022–2023 season.

Will Hardy, Udoka’s best assistant from the previous campaign, left in June to take over as Utah Jazz coach.

After Danny Ainge’s departure, Brad Stevens was elevated to president of basketball operations, and Udoka took over as coach for the 2018–19 season.

Before his playing career ended in 2011, Udoka had seven seasons in the NBA, the last four of which he spent with San Antonio.

Before taking over as head coach of the Celtics in June 2021 and having a standout first season, he served as an assistant coach for a while with San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn.

Boston finished the previous season with a 28-7 run, developing the best defense in the NBA under Udoka’s direction.

They defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the second round after defeating the highly talented Brooklyn Nets in the first round.

They advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010 after eliminating the Miami Heat in seven games during the Eastern Conference finals.

Players praised Udoka profusely despite their June championship series loss in six games against the Golden State Warriors.

During the NBA Finals, Marcus Smart of Boston said, “You know you have the makings of a great coach who’s trying to get somewhere special when you have a coach who’s ready to hold you accountable, and not just you but everyone on the team the same way.

After an exciting off-season that saw the Celtics acquire Malcolm Brogdon and veteran free agent Danilo Gallinari, the unrest casts further doubt on the team’s forthcoming campaign.

Gallinari will miss the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee while representing Italy in a Basketball World Cup qualifier in August.

Celtics Arena Following knee surgery, Rob Williams is anticipated to miss the season’s opening games.

As the season’s opening on October 18 draws near, the affair represents yet another scandal for the NBA.

The owner of the struggling Phoenix Suns, Robert Sarver, who was fined $10 million and suspended for a year by the NBA for making misogynistic and racist remarks in the workplace, announced on Wednesday that he will be selling both the Suns and the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.

NBA players who criticized the NBA for being too mild in Sarver’s penalty, such as Chris Paul of the Suns and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, made the announcement.

Sponsors also put pressure on Sarver; PayPal, a supporter of the Suns, threatened to sever ties with the team should Sarver return following his suspension.