Ime Udoka Coaching Odds: Which NBA Team Will Be Udoka’s Next Job?

Udoka Out at the Celtics

For most NBA betting fans, it looked like former NBA head coach Ime Udoka had a stellar future ahead of him in the league following last season with the Boston Celtics, his first in charge running a club in the Association.

After a bit of a slow start, the Celtics finally adapted to Udoka’s defensive system. They would finish with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and reach their first NBA Finals since 2010, losing in six games to the dynastic Golden State Warriors. No shame in that, and the Celtics’ future was incredibly bright with Udoka and superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

That future is still bright for Boston, which has the NBA’s best record at the All-Star break and is the betting favorite at the best online sportsbook sites to win it all this year – without Udoka.

In a September shocker, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the 2022–23 season for violations of team policies pertaining to an improper intimate relationship with a female Celtics staff member. Udoka apologized (and lost his long-term relationship with actress Nia Long), but wasn’t planning to quit.

Boston gave assistant Joe Mazzulla the head coaching job on an interim basis, but things have gone so well that he was recently named the full-time coach and Udoka is officially out. Where might his next head coaching job be? We break down the sports betting odds and options.

Latest Coaching Odds for Ime Udoka

Despite his off-court circumstances, Ime Udoka is still a hot coaching prospect. It’s little surprise that sports betting sites are currently offering odds on which NBA side will Ime Udoka will coach next.

Note that the Bovada prop of Udoka’s next job doesn’t refer to only this season – with most teams having about 22 or so regular-season games left even though it’s the All-Star break, there are unlikely to me any coaching changes the rest of the way but surely at least a few in the offseason.

With all the talent they have, led by All-Star guards Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, the Atlanta Hawks (+225 favorites as Udoka’s next job) should be among the top teams in the East but instead are a game under .500. The situation was clearly untenable as coach Nate McMillan was fired this week. Defense is definitely an issue for Atlanta, and Udoka would bring that knowledge this offseason.

The Detroit Pistons (+250) are still in rebuild mode but have some intriguing young talent on the roster and may have one of the most coveted jobs in the league if they win the NBA draft lottery and the right to select mega-prospect Victor Wembanyama. Current coach Dwane Casey is expected to be a goner.

The Chicago Bulls (+400), Charlotte Hornets (+450), Houston Rockets (+600) and San Antonio Spurs (+1000) round out the options.

Udoka is a former Spurs assistant under Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich, who might be ready to retire. Popovich has the power to name his successor and any team will get bit of public relations blowback by hiring Udoka as the Brooklyn Nets almost did early this season. PR isn’t something Popovich will care about.

For all the latest real money sports betting odds, be sure to read the GambleOnline blog!