Nia Long has reentered the spotlight, and this time, the attention isn’t tied to her personal endeavors.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka chose not to delve into the specifics of his on-court exchange with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, a conversation that led to technical fouls and Udoka’s subsequent ejection during the Lakers’ 107-97 triumph with 8:35 remaining in the fourth quarter. Tensions escalated following a physical encounter between Lakers forward Cam Reddish and Rockets forward Tari Eason, prompting Udoka and James to engage in a sideline discussion that caught the referees’ notice.
RELATED: Nia Long Aiming For Full Custody of her Son with NBA Coach Ime Udoka
During the postgame press conference, Udoka mentioned that he had only conversed with James, but the referees “didn’t like what they heard.” In response, James humorously stated that their discussion revolved around “how much we enjoyed Thanksgiving.”
Interestingly, on social media, Ime Udoka’s ex, Nia Long, found herself trending due to the incident.
It’s worth noting the backdrop of Ime Udoka’s personal life, where allegations of infidelity during his relationship with Nia Long surfaced. The woman he allegedly cheated with is Kathleen Nimmo Lynch, the former team service manager for the Boston Celtics, resulting in Udoka’s termination.
Udoka went on to discuss the overall game, in which Houston initially led after the first quarter but faced a significant setback, getting outscored 35-14 in the second. Taking a veiled jab at the Lakers, he expressed dissatisfaction with being physically dominated by a team not known for such tactics.
Specifically addressing the Rockets’ defensive lapses against Anthony Davis, Udoka highlighted this as an area where the team fell short. Davis emerged as the top scorer with 27 points and 14 rebounds, including six offensive rebounds.
The Rockets and Lakers are slated to meet for the final time in the regular season on January 29. Perhaps, in the future, James and Udoka can discuss their New Year celebrations. There’s also a possibility of reconciliation with Nia, as their connection appears enduring.
