Net Worth Ranker
What Is Ime Udoka’s Net Worth?
Ime Udoka, a Nigerian-American NBA coach and former professional basketball player, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $8 million as of 2025. This wealth is primarily derived from his earnings as a player and subsequently as a head coach in the National Basketball Association. While specifics regarding his investment portfolio or other assets are not publicly available, his NBA career earnings and coaching salary provide a clear picture of his financial standing.
Ime Udoka’s NBA Salary and Career Earnings
During his NBA playing career, Ime Udoka earned just under $4 million in total salary. His highest-paid seasons were the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons, during which he earned $1 million each year playing for the San Antonio Spurs. Prior to these peak earning years, Udoka’s salary varied depending on his team and role within the league. For instance, his early contracts with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks were for significantly less than $1 million per year. Details of specific endorsement deals or bonuses earned during his playing career are not publicly available, but it’s reasonable to assume that endorsements would have supplemented his base salary to some extent. Udoka’s relatively short but productive NBA career provided the foundation for his future financial success. Details of his contract with the Sacramento Kings are unavailable, however it can be inferred that it was less than $1 million.
After going undrafted in 2000, Udoka started his professional career in the IBA with the Fargo-Moorhead Beez (2000-01) and then played in Argentina with Independiente (2001), before joining the NBA D-League with the North Charleston Lowgators in 2002. He made his NBA debut in 2003 with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2005-06, he signed with the New York Knicks. He averaged 8.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game the following year after signing with the Portland Trailblazers. In 2007, Udoka signed with the San Antonio Spurs. Ime played with the Sacramento Kings in 2009-10, and he went back to the Spurs in 2010-11, his final NBA season. In 2012, he played one more year for UCAM Murcia.
Head Coaching Salary and Contract Details
As head coach of the Boston Celtics, Ime Udoka’s salary was $5 million per year under a 4-year contract. This figure was corroborated during his child support case following his breakup with actress Nia Long. Court filings revealed that Udoka earned approximately $400,000 per month, which translates to around $4.8 million per year. Although the exact terms of his coaching contract were not fully disclosed to the public, it is standard practice in the NBA for head coaching contracts to include performance-based incentives and bonuses. These incentives could have potentially increased his annual earnings beyond the base salary of $5 million. It’s also important to note that coaching salaries in the NBA can vary significantly based on experience, team performance, and market demand. Udoka’s salary with the Celtics reflected his prior experience as an assistant coach and the team’s expectations for success under his leadership.
On June 28, 2021, Udoka became the fifth head coach of African descent in the Boston Celtics’ history. After starting the season 18-21, the team rallied to a 51-31 record under his leadership and made their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. In the NBA Finals, the Celtics were defeated in six games by the Golden State Warriors. On September 21, 2022, an ESPN article claimed that Udoka had broken a Boston Celtics organizational rule and that punishment was being planned. It was later discovered that Ime had an inappropriate, intimate relationship with a female staff member. The organization suspended him for the entire season, keeping him off the court for the 2022–23 campaign. Udoka issued an apology but declined to step down from his position.
Ime Udoka’s Early Life and Background
Ime Sunday Udoka was born on August 9, 1977, in Portland, Oregon. He attended Jefferson High School in Portland, where he excelled as a basketball player. After graduating from high school, Udoka initially enrolled at the University of San Francisco before transferring to Portland State University. At Portland State, he played for the Portland State Vikings and led the team in scoring. While specifics regarding his upbringing or early financial situation are not widely publicized, his collegiate basketball career provided him with the platform to pursue a professional career in the sport. His late father, Vitalis, enabled him to obtain Nigerian citizenship. His mother, who was from Illinois, passed away in 2011.
Coaching Career Before Celtics
In August 2012, Udoka was hired as an assistant coach by Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs. In the 2014 NBA Finals, the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 to win his first championship. In 2019, Ime joined the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant head coach, before being hired by the Brooklyn Nets for the same position.
Personal Life and Financial Settlements
Ime Udoka was in a relationship with actress Nia Long from 2011 to 2022. Long gave birth to their first child, Kez Sunday Udoka, in November 2011. The couple got engaged in May 2015, but they never married. Following the revelation of Udoka’s affair with a Celtics staff member, their relationship ended in late 2022. Court filings from their child support case revealed that Udoka earned approximately $400,000 per month, while Long earned around $20,000. Udoka agreed to pay Long $32,500 per month in child support. They agreed to split custody of their child, and a year prior, Long purchased a $3.6 million home in Los Angeles. Details on other assets between the couple are not available.
