Celtics green-and-white looks good on Nia Long.
The actress was on cloud nine Monday while celebrating fiancé Ime Udoka’s new head coaching gig in Boston. Long took to Instagram to share a smiling selfie while dressed in a symbolic Celtics No. 18 jersey.
“I like the number 18. The legacy continues @celtics,” she captioned her post, with the hashtag, “coachudoka18” — pointing out that Udoka will chase the storied franchise’s 18th title.
The former NBA player, now 43, focused part of his introductory press conference discussing his championship hopes and said he’s ready to push Boston’s young stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Long shared a number of Instagram posts supporting her longtime partner. On Monday, she posted a photo of Udoka at his Celtics media debut and gushed over the “warm welcome” the couple received from the organization.
“I am beyond proud of this man. Expect great things because that’s what he does,” she wrote about Udoka in a separate Instagram post.
Long also shared a photo of Udoka and Brad Stevens grinning during Udoka’s first day on the job. Udoka is Stevens’ replacement after Boston’s former head coach was promoted to head of basketball operations following Danny Ainge’s departure.
The Celtics official Instagram account re-posted Long’s photos, writing, “Welcome to the family [Nia Long].”
Stevens also named Long, the couple’s son Kez, and his big brother Massai in his welcome speech on Monday, while echoing comments about Boston’s hopeful 18th title run.
Udoka was an assistant with the Nets before he joined the Celtics. He previously spent seven seasons as a Spurs assistant, from 2012-2019, under coach Gregg Popovich. Udoka went on to spend two years in Philadelphia under Brett Brown. His playing career included stints with the Lakers, Knicks, Blazers, Spurs and Kings.
Udoka and Long have been together for over a decade and welcomed Kez in 2011. The couple got engaged in 2015, but have managed to keep their relationship out of the spotlight. Though, Long has been a consistent supporter of Udoka’s coaching career on social media.
In 2012, Long revealed she’s not a fan of marriage, despite being engaged to Udoka.
“I understand the religious aspect of marriage. That is beautiful and it’s fantastical and it’s dreamy and it’s every girl’s fantasy to have that moment. But I don’t know that I need that to feel like I’m in a partnership that’s working,” she told Essence in a cover interview.