Reporter slams treatment of Celtics women staffers in wake of Udoka scandal

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The scandal surrounding Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka has had broader consequences.

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Amid his suspension for multiple alleged violations of team policies — which reportedly involve an inappropriate relationship with a woman within the organization, NBC Sports Boston reporter Amanda Pflugrad has outlined the effect it’s had on the Celtics’ female staffers.

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During coverage of Celtics Media Day on Monday, Pflugrad took to the air to address the speculation the staffers have faced on social media, stating the Celtics as an organization needed to change.

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“I think I’d be doing everyone, and every female, in the Celtics organization a disservice if I didn’t step on this,” Pflugrad said. “The last few days have been very hard in terms of emotions, ranging from heartbreak, sadness, defeat at some times, and anger and humiliation.”

She pointed out how some social media users felt it was “completely fine” to take “innocent people’s names in our organization, and their personal photos, and put them out there for speculation.

“That damages careers. That damages reputations,” she said.

“And every woman in our organization has worked extremely hard to get where she is at, and she deserves and has earned everything that she has right now. For things in the Celtics, and what we’re doing moving forward, things do need to change. You need to stand up, support us and hear us.”

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Days earlier on Twitter, Pflugrad also addressed the scandal, stating, “Seeing uninvolved people’s names thrown around in the media, including mine, with such carelessness is disgusting. This is a step backwards for women in sports who have worked hard to prove themselves in an industry they deserve to be in.”

The New York Post reported Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens addressed the Udoka scandal, saying the team has “a lot of talented women in our organization, and I thought (Sept. 22) was really hard on them.”

“Nobody can control Twitter speculation. Rampant bull****,” Stevens said. “But I do think that we as an organization have a responsibility that we’re there to support them now because a lot of people were dragged unfairly because of that.”

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According to TMZ, Udoka had an affair with a travel logistics coordinator for the team.

Udoka is engaged to actor Nia Long. The couple have been together since 2010 and share a two-year-old son.