One of the many NBA coaching vacancies has reportedly been filled. The Boston Celtics are hiring Ime Udoka to be their next head coach, sources told ESPN.

Udoka will replace Brad Stevens, who was Boston’s head coach from 2013-2021 and has moved into the front office, taking over for former Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. Udoka spent this past season as an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets.

Prior to being part of the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff for the 2019-2020 season, Udoka was an assistant under San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich from 2012-2019. Udoka also assisted Popovich on Team USA in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Celtics All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum played for that team and gave Udoka a strong recommendation to Boston, ESPN reports.

Long-time Celtic Marcus Smart also played for Udoka and reportedly approves of the hire.

Numerous coaches have been linked to the Celtics since Stevens stepped away from Boston’s bench. Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham had multiple interviews for the job. Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson was a serious candidate. Lawson is a former Celtics assistant, and other members of Stevens’ staff were viewed as legitimate options.

Former head coach Mike D’Antoni, who was on the staff with Udoka in Brooklyn, was a candidate for Boston, as well.

Instead, Boston is going with a first-time head coach.

The Celtics were one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams this season. Boston posted a .500 record and was eliminated in five games by Udoka and the Nets in the first round of the playoffs.

Ime Udoka Boston Celtics
Assistant Coach Ime Udoka of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on June 01, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Steven Ryan/Getty Images
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