Report: Celtics finalizing hire of Nets' Udoka as head coach

The Boston Celtics are finalizing an agreement to hire Brooklyn Nets assistant Ime Udoka as their next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 43-year-old reportedly received significant support from multiple Celtics players after working with him on Team USA during the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

New president of basketball operations Brad Stevens apparently valued Udoka's prior experience as an assistant with the Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Antonio Spurs.

Udoka spent seven years on Gregg Popovich's staff and a year apiece working under Brett Brown in Philadelphia and Steve Nash in Brooklyn.

Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups are said to have been among the top candidates during the Celtics' search.

Boston struggled this past season, finishing seventh in the East with a 36-36 record. The Celtics fell in five games to the Nets during the opening round of the playoffs.