Ime Udoka, the head coach of the Houston Rockets, is not currently married. His personal life has drawn attention, especially his previous engagement to actress Nia Long, with whom he shares a son, Kez.
Ime Udoka, born August 9, 1977, in Portland, Oregon, is a Nigerian-American basketball coach and former player.
After going undrafted in 2000, Ime Udoka embarked on a professional basketball career spanning the NBA, Europe, and the D-League.
He had notable stints with the San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers.
Udoka transitioned to coaching, starting as an assistant with the Spurs, 76ers, and Nets. He won an NBA title as part of the Spurs‘ coaching staff in 2014.
In 2021, he became head coach of the Boston Celtics, leading them to the 2022 NBA Finals.
Following a suspension in 2022, he was hired as head coach of the Houston Rockets in 2023, achieving a notable turnaround in his first season.
Udoka also represented Nigeria internationally and served as an assistant coach for Team USA.
Ime Udoka Does Not Have a Wife but Was Previously Engaged to Actress Nia Long and Shares a Son, Kez!!
Ime Udoka is not currently married and does not have a wife as of 2024.
He was previously engaged to actress Nia Long, with whom he had a long-term relationship for over a decade. They got engaged in 2015 and share a son, Kez, born in 2011.
However, their relationship ended in 2022 following a public scandal. Udoka, then head coach of the Boston Celtics, was involved in a controversy after having an affair with a team staff member.
This led to his suspension for the entire 2022-2023 NBA season. The scandal significantly impacted his personal life, resulting in the dissolution of his engagement to Long.
Despite the emotional toll, Long has opened up about her healing process. In an interview with The Cut, she described the experience as,
“a gut punch and then this red carpet of blessing.”
Via: TheCut
Long expressed frustration over how the Celtics made the private matter public, questioning why it couldn’t have been handled internally.
She shared that she had to prioritize self-love over trying to salvage the relationship, acknowledging the challenges she faced, especially for the sake of their son.
When Nia Long was asked about the sudden shift from peace to public drama, she said,
“My only focus right now is my youngest son ’cause he’s having a really tough time. I’m sure I have some things that I’m suppressing, but I have to do that to take care of him first.”
Via: TheCut
After the breakup, the couple reached a joint custody agreement for their son, with Kez primarily living with Long.
While Udoka has not remarried, he has expressed that he spent time reflecting and working on himself, focusing on personal growth during his offseason. This period of self-improvement helped Udoka regain his focus.
It has contributed to his successful coaching career with the Houston Rockets, where he continues to build his professional legacy.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ime Udoka’s father, Vitalis Udoka, moved to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1970, while his mother, Agnes, was from Illinois and passed away in late 2011.
- Udoka holds dual citizenship with the U.S. and Nigeria.
- Ime’s older sister, Mfon, played in the WNBA.
