Reported new Celtics coach once was Kings comeback hero originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The Boston Celtics reportedly have their new head coach, and Kings fans should be familiar with the name.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday that the Celtics are finalizing a contract to make Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Ime Udoka their next man in charge. Udoka, 43, has bounced around the NBA as a player and coach, including 69 games with the Kings in the 2009-10 season.
As the Stockton Kings’ play-by-play announcer Deuce Mason pointed out Wednesday morning, Udoka played a major role in Sacramento’s epic 35-point comeback win over the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 21, 2009. Udoka nailed a big-time shot with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 102-98 win, shortening the Kings’ deficit to only four points.
The Kings outscored the Bulls 33-10 in the fourth quarter to pull off the wild win.
Udoka finished with 17 points on the night, which was the most by their bench players, and second overall behind Tyreke Evans’ 23. Udoka went 6-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-5 from deep.
Bulls forward Luol Deng led all scorers with 26 points.
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Udoka averaged 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game for the Kings. His 17 points against the Bulls were his second-most in a Kings uniform. Udoka’s season high for the Kings came against the Warriors on Jan. 8. 2010, when he dropped 19 in a 108-101 loss.
Steph Curry scored 12 points as a rookie in the Warriors’ win against Udoka and the Kings.