Fansided

Here’s what Jalen Rose said and why he apologized

By Scott Rogust

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 11: Jalen Rose of ESPN looks on during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors at Wells Fargo Center on December 11, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 11: Jalen Rose of ESPN looks on during a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors at Wells Fargo Center on December 11, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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ESPN NBA commentator Jalen Rose apologized for saying the identity of the Boston Celtics female staff member involved with Ime Udoka should be made public.

The Brooklyn Nets have been in the NBA spotlight for the past week due in part to Kyrie Irving promoting a film with antisemitic tropes on Twitter and head coach Steve Nash parting ways with the team. In regards to the latter, various reports indicate that the Nets plan to hire Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka to replace Nash.

Udoka is currently suspended for the entire 2022-23 season by the Celtics over a violation of team policies, which involved reportedly using crude language towards a female subordinate before the start of an improper workplace relationship.

During ESPN’s NBA Countdown show ahead of the Celtics-Chicago Bulls game, commentator Jalen Rose said that he doesn’t understand why the name of the female employee wasn’t revealed.

“We know his name. Maybe I’m missing something as it relates to the law, but why don’t we know her name? It’s not like she’s a minor, I feel like we should know her name publicly, as well” said Rose.

Jalen Rose apologizes for comments regarding Ime Udoka scandal

During halftime, Rose issued an apology for the comments he made in the show. Shortly after his apology, the feed cut to a commercial.

“I would like to apologize for a comment I made earlier on NBA Countdown,” said Rose. “I questioned why a woman’s name who had an alleged affair with Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was not made public. After an internal investigation, and it was discovered that she was a subordinate to the head coach, I now understand fully why her name should not be released to the public.”

Fans who did not watch NBA Countdown reacted to the apology given by Rose regarding his comments about the female staffer.

https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/1588702311119216641?s=20&t=VJKDaXIo9Iol8ZL6Z9YIVA

https://twitter.com/SnOopOoscar/status/1588696133886365696?s=20&t=VJKDaXIo9Iol8ZL6Z9YIVA

https://twitter.com/JaylonLockson/status/1588695087567233024?s=20&t=VJKDaXIo9Iol8ZL6Z9YIVA

https://twitter.com/incarceratedbob/status/1588696104035840001?s=20&t=VJKDaXIo9Iol8ZL6Z9YIVA

An independent law firm revealed the findings of their investigation, discovering that Udoka had used “used crude language in his dialogue with a female subordinate prior to the start of an improper workplace relationship with the woman,” per a report from ESPN senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.  That significantly factored into the Celtics’ decision to suspend Udoka for the season.

This week, reports from Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicated that the Nets were finalizing a deal with Udoka to be their next head coach.

General manager Sean Marks said in a press conference on Friday that the team has not made a decision regarding who will replace Nash as head coach.

Next. Nike suspends relationship with Kyrie Irving. dark

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