The Celtics introduced Ime Udoka as their new head coach at a press conference on Monday, and predictably, Udoka’s first encounter with reporters in Boston was heavy with questions about Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Udoka coached both Brown and Tatum as an assistant with Team USA two summers ago, and he got the stamp of approval from both players, as well as Marcus Smart — another Team USA participant. Udoka said he thanked them for their kind words.
“They’re going to allow me to coach them, push them. They know I’m going to be on their ass, and that’s what they like about me, they’ve asked me about that,” Udoka said with a smile.