Nia Long can vividly remember the moment that sent shockwaves through the sports world in September, when her longtime partner, Celtics coach Ime Udoka, was suspended by the organization over an alleged affair.

“I think the most heartbreaking thing about all of this was seeing my son’s face when the Boston Celtics organization decided to make a very private situation public,” Long said.

Udoka, 45, joined the Celtics in 2021 after serving as an assistant coach for the Nets a year prior.

Long, who got engaged to Udoka in 2015, supported Boston throughout its playoff run, frequently taking to social media to cheer on the Celtics.

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said