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Report: Celtics to hire Nets assistant Ime Udoka as new head coach

It didn't take long for the Boston Celtics to find their new head coach. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics are hiring Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Ime Udoka as their next skipper.

Udoka, 43, is a former player who spent seven seasons in the NBA, but he's now spent more time as an assistant coach than he did as a player. He was hired as an assistant by the San Antonio Spurs not long after his retirement in 2012 and spent the next seven years working under Gregg Popovich — a stint that included an NBA championship in 2014. After a season with the Philadelphia 76ers (during which he was passed over for head coach in favor of Doc Rivers), Udoka landed with the Nets. It turns out he'll be spending just one season there as well.

The job Udoka is taking recently belonged to Brad Stevens. Following seven years as head coach, Stevens was promoted to president of basketball operations following GM Danny Ainge's retirement. According to Woj, Udoka quickly gained steam as the leading candidate thanks to his NBA experience and "significant support" from Celtics players.

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