Where Nia Long stands with ex Ime Udoka after NBA coach’s affair scandal

Three years after Ime Udoka’s alleged workplace affair with a female Celtics staffer rocked the world of his then-partner, Nia Long, the actress has revealed the former couple is in a “good” place today.

Reflecting on her personal life as part of an October/November 2025 cover story with The Cut, Long said she and Udoka, 48, are committed to co-parenting 13-year-old son Kez, and how they’ve moved forward in the wake of the Rockets coach’s 2022 scandal.

“This summer, I traveled with my youngest son and my ex, Ime. We had a great time. I’ve never walked that much in my life. But it was really beautiful because we’ve had a very public journey that has found its way to peace and understanding. And there’s a lot of mutual respect that we have for each other,” Long, 54, told the publication.

“The most important gift you can give your kids is to heal your trauma. I don’t talk much about my personal life ’cause it’s no one’s business, but every now and then people speculate things on social media and it’s like me and Coach are good. I hope he wins. He deserves to win. He’s really great at what he does. We can have experiences with our son and make him the priority.”

Long and Udoka were together for 13 years before they parted ways in December 2022 — nearly three months after Udoka was suspended by the Celtics for a year for allegedly having an improper and consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff.

Joe Mazzulla, then an assistant with the Celtics, was named the interim head coach for the 2022-23 season, a position that was made permanent in February 2023.

The Rockets hired Udoka as their head coach two months later.

Long, who welcomed Kez with Udoka in 2011, originally sought full custody of their son in August 2023. They reached a custody and child support agreement in January 2024, with Udoka agreeing to pay Long $32,500 per month, Page Six previously reported, citing court docs.

Though “there’s still healing to be done and understanding to be had,” as Long told The Cut, “the past is the past.”

“I’m not going to carry burdensome energy with me because that just transfers to my children and it transfers to everything else in my life. I’m proud of myself. I think we’re proud of each other as the parents of Kez, that we’re able to make this an annual thing and commit to these last sweet years of him being in grade school and high school before he goes off to college. We’re both going to be standing there watching him graduate,” she said.

“I talk about my kids a lot because they take up so much space in my life and in my heart. Everything I do is for them. I’m not a perfect mother. I’ve made many mistakes … My kids have seen me go through it. But that’s the type of mother I am. If I’m pissed, everyone knows. If I’m happy, everyone knows. Protect the innocence of your children, but allow them to see the truth in every situation.”

Long is also a mom to son Massai from a previous relationship.

Udoka is now entering his third season as coach of the Rockets, who are coming off a 52-30 season that included a playoff berth and have since added Kevin Durant.

Houston opens the season on the road Oct. 21 against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.