Knicks owner James Dolan passed on one Nigerian basketball brain in Masai Ujiri to be president. Some feel Dolan should take a harder look at a Nigerian-American in Ime Udoka to be head coach.
Tim Shea, the former Knicks director of international scouting and assistant Olympic coach for Nigeria, says hiring Udoka would be a progressive move the club could use. Udoka, the former longtime Spurs player and assistant in his first season with the Sixers, is one of 10 Knicks coaching candidates not named Tom Thibodeau, the clear-cut favorite.
Shea and Dozie Mbonu, GM of the Nigerian National team, have staged several conversations about how Udoka deserves to be an NBA head coach in these changing times. The NBA started the 2019-20 season with just eight Black head coaches.
Udoka is the brother-in-law of Knicks scout Makhtar Ndiaye, who was recently named GM of the Senegal National Team.
“He’s been successful as a coach, undisputed captain of the national team because of his leadership and communication skills and his serious approach,” Shea said. “He’s very competitive. He’s a pro. Those are qualities you need in a coach. People respect the s–t out of this guy. He should be the head coach of the Knicks to change the culture there.”
The 42-year-old Udoka, Shea contends, was instrumental in LaMarcus Aldridge signing with the Spurs as free agent in 2015; the Knicks never got a meeting with Aldridge.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is nicknamed “The Greek Freak” but both his parents are Nigerian. Antetokounmpo is a free agent in 2021 when the Knicks should have max cap space.
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“Obviously, a lot of people don’t know where I’m from,” Antetokounmpo told The Undefeated in 2019. “A lot of people think my mom or my dad are from Greece, but no. Both of my parents are black. Both of my parents are Nigerian.”
Shea believes the talent level in Nigeria still is untapped.
“How good would it be for Nigeria’s promising players to have a Nigerian-American who is a natural born leader and someone they look up to?” Shea said.
Shea, who lives in Spain, contends the Knicks’ reputation in international circles has slid in the wake of Kristaps Porzingis’ trade demand and Frank Ntilikina’s rocky path.
“Ime is the real deal and international is the future,” Shea said. “He was a tough sucker. He kicked ass and didn’t take names. We’re all tired of the ‘Recycled Coaches Association.'”
Multiple executives believe Udoka will be a future head coach.
“I think there’s going to be a call for more minority coaches,” one NBA executive said.
Long Island’s Torrel Harris, the agent/father of Sixers forward Tobias Harris, told The Post recently Udoka would be a perfect Knicks hire.
“All players love him,” Harris said. “He gets the players respect.”