Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons, left, listens to assistant coach Ime Udoka, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings in Philadelphia. (Chris Szagola/AP)
When Ime Udoka looks at the Boston Celtics’ roster, he sees a team with pieces to build around and endless potential.
He also sees a chance and has been given an invitation to push the team’s youthful core harder than it was under his predecessor.
The 43-year-old Udoka was introduced as the 18th coach in team history Monday, marking the latest course correction for the franchise as it looks to maximize its current window to capture an 18th NBA championship.
Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka wants to ‘bring the dog out’ in stars
Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, left, listens to assistant coach Ime Udoka, right, during the second half of a Nov. 27, 2019, game against the Sacramento Kings in Philadelphia. Udoka was introduced as the new coach of the Boston Celtics on Monday. AP File
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, second from right, celebrates with Jaylen Brown after making the go-ahead basket with less than a second on the clock during the second half of a Dec. 23, 2020, game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston. New Celtics coach Ime Udoka plans to push the star players to be greater. AP File
Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka wants to ‘bring the dog out’ in stars
Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, left, listens to assistant coach Ime Udoka, right, during the second half of a Nov. 27, 2019, game against the Sacramento Kings in Philadelphia. Udoka was introduced as the new coach of the Boston Celtics on Monday. AP File
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, second from right, celebrates with Jaylen Brown after making the go-ahead basket with less than a second on the clock during the second half of a Dec. 23, 2020, game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston. New Celtics coach Ime Udoka plans to push the star players to be greater. AP File
SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Jazz will have a new head decision maker.
Dennis Lindsey, who has led Utah s front office since 2012, will move into an advisory role in the franchise, the team announced Sunday.
Justin Zanik, who has served as general manager under Lindsey since 2019, will run the day-to-day operations. In recent years, I have had conversations with the Miller family and then Ryan Smith when he came on board about moving into an advisory role, Lindsey said in a statement. This is an appropriate time to make the transition with the organization on such solid footing.
Under Lindsey, the Jazz began a long rebuilding process that ended with the league s best record last season with three All-Stars leading the way in Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley.