Looks like the Celtics have found their next coach.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that Boston is in the process of making a deal with Nets assistant coach Aim Odoka to be the team’s new head coach.
The Boston Celtics are finalizing a deal to appoint Brooklyn Nets assistant Amy Odoka as the franchise’s new coach, sources have told ESPN.
-Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2021
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That position opened this season when Danny Inge stepped down as general manager in Boston and former head coach Brad Stevens transferred to the position of chief basketball operations.
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But how did the Celtics get to Odoka to be the eighteenth coach in team history? Here’s everything you need to know about how Udoka took stock of his basketball career.
Previous training experience
Udoka has been in the league as an assistant coach for almost a decade, spending most of his time working under the guidance of his former San Antonio coach Greg Popovich.
After seven seasons in the NBA and 2012 with UCM Murcia CP in Spain, Oduka returned to Tottenham in 2012 as an assistant coach. He was on the staff in 2014 when they beat the Heat to win the NBA Championship.
Odoka joined the 76ers crew in the 2019-20 season before landing with the net at the start of the 2020-21 season.
According to Wojnarowski, Stevens enjoyed Odoka’s coaching experience as an assistant coach and he was a likely candidate for a head coach position on this course.
Stevens was believed to appreciate Udoka’s vast experience as an assistant with the Spurs, Sixers and Nets. Odoka had become a prime candidate for training in this course and appeared destined for a job. He has one with the Celtics which includes two All-Star guys.
-Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2021
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Qualified player
During his playing days, Udoka made a number of stopovers.
Odoka, a 6-foot-6 forward, played collectively for San Francisco and Portland State and played one season with Sportivo Independiente, an Argentinian La Liga basketball team. He was ultimately drafted 39th overall in the 2002 NBA Developmental League Draft and spent a season with North Charleston and a short stint with the Lakers in 2004 when he played four games and averaged two points.
The next two seasons, 2004 and 2005, he spent in Europe, playing first for Gran Canaria in Spain and eventually joining JA Vichy in France. He landed the NBDL draft again in 2005 and was ranked third by the Fort Worth Flyers and again reached the NBA in 2006 with the Knicks, averaging 2.8 points. He had his best season in 2006-07 when he started 75 games with the Trail Blazers and averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He played the next four seasons in San Antonio, averaging 4.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game in 160 games, and started only in three. His last stop was in Spain with UCAM Murcia CB in 2012 before ending his football career.
Competition on the world stage
Oduka’s father was born in Nigeria of Ibibio origin, which means Oduka could qualify to play for Nigeria in an international competition.
He played for the Nigerian national team at the 2005 African Basketball Championship, where he helped the team achieve the bronze medal. In the final, Odoka scored 24 points to help Nigeria defeat Algeria 88-76. He continued to play for the team and helped Nigeria out of the group stage at the 2006 World Basketball Championships.
Odoka then led the Nigerian national team to another bronze medal at AfroBasket 2011, beating Ivory Coast 77-67.
Even as a coach, Odoka once again found himself struggling with international competition. He also served as an assistant coach for Popovich’s squad at the 2019 World Cup with a roster including Celtics Jaylen Brown, Jason Tatum and Marcus Smart.
Consent of the player
Odoka found himself the next Celtics contender largely because of the relationship he had established with the players.
According to Wojnarowski, several players have shown their support for Udoka’s hiring after working with him in Team USA.
Oduka quickly parted ways in the process of finding Brad Stevens, including huge support from Celtics players who admired Oduka after working under him with Team USA in the World. https://t.co/87p0Q02tkS
-Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2021
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This is nothing new for Odoka. According to a Sports Illustrated report, was a major factor in LaMarcus Aldridge’s relegation to Tottenham after the two played together for Borland in Aldridge’s first year in the NBA.
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