Matt Barnes Backtracks After Saying Boston Celtics’ Coach Ime Udoka’s One-Year Suspension For Having A Work Affair Was A ‘Terrible Call’: It’s 100 Times Uglier Than Any Of Us Thought 

Matt Barnes, Ime Udoka

Matt Barnes Backtracks After Saying Boston Celtics’ Coach Ime Udoka’s One-Year Suspension For Having A Work Affair Was A ‘Terrible Call’: It’s 100 Times Uglier Than Any Of Us Thought 

Matt Barnes disagreed with Ime Udoka’s suspension — until he received all the “ugly” facts on the affair.

On Thursday (Sept. 22), former NBA star Matt Barnes took to social media to address Boston Celtics’ coach, Ime Udoka, being suspended for a year following his alleged affair with one of the franchise’s employees. He also compared Ime Udoka’s suspension to Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver’s one-year suspension following his use of the ‘N-word’ in the work environment. The 42-year-old shared:

“Normally I’d be choppin’ it up on ESPN with you guys about this but I’m off until next week but I definitely wanna touch on this Ime Udoka situation.”

Barnes continued:

“A year suspension was just handed down by the team for an inappropriate consensual sexual situation with a female that worked in the organization. I played in the league for a long time, anyone who played in the league could tell you, this is a very common situation. This is not new news for people who been in the league or even around organizations. I’ve seen it from owners, to executives, to coaches, to players, to trainers, to therapists, to dancers, to PR ladies like, this is not uncommon.”

The California native added:

“And it just brings some context to it. The NBA just suspended Sarver for all the sh*t he did and he got a year too. So you’re trying to tell me what Robert Sarver did and Udoka did are even on the same level? Even in the same book? Yet they warranted the same amount of time? It’s a bad look man. The Celtics, whoever made this decision, was a terrible decision. You wanna suspend the man 15, 20, 25 games – but a whole season for a consensual situation? That not only happens in the NBA but happens in every single work place. This was a terrible call man.”

However, on Sept. 23, Barnes doubled back on his initial comments on Udoka after a source informed him of specific details that lead up to the one-year suspension. Barnes took it to Instagram and said:

“So last night I spoke on this Ime Udoka situation without having all the facts and I think as apart of the media, often media speaks to something, and when they’re wrong they won’t come out and say it. And since I’m apart of the media now and I try not to be like everyone else. I try to, you know, report, and talk with facts, and honesty and I clearly have to say, last night, without knowing all the facts, I spoke on Ime Udoka’s defense and after finding out the facts after I spoke, I erased what I posted because this situation in Boston is deep, it’s messy, it’s 100 times uglier than any of us thought and that’s why I erased what I said.”

He added:

“Some things happened that I can’t condone, I can’t back, and it’s not my place to tell you what happened. If it ends up coming out, it ends up coming out. But that was the reason why I erased my post last night because after I posted it I got a call from someone who had all the details and this sh*t is deep. So praying for everybody involved. Hope everyone gets through this and I saw a lot of blogs picked up what I said even though it was only on my page for two minutes, so hopefully they pick this up too for me being wrong and jumping out there without the facts. So thats where ima leave it. God bless.”

As reported earlier (Sept. 23), Boston Celtics’ coach and Nia Long’s fiance, Udoka has been suspended for having a consensual intimate relationship with a woman who works for the organization. In a statement, the 45-year-old addressed the affair.

Nia Long, Ime Udoka & Their Son

He wrote: 

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down.” 

The 45-year-old added:

“I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

What are your thoughts on Matt Barnes doubling back on defending Ime Udoka after finding out the facts about his affair? Share it with us in the comments below.