Nia Long filed a case which intends to obtain the full custody of her 11-year-old son with Ime Udoka.
According to the documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the veteran actress claimed that Udoka “failed to support” their lone child, Kez Sunday. She also requested the Houston Rockets head coach to shoulder the attorney fees of the said legal matters.
Attorneys Samantha Spector and Lisa Helfend Meyer submitted the petition on behalf of Long in Los Angeles County Superior Court last Aug. 14.
Both Long and Udoka immediately cutted their ties upon 13 years of dating months after it was reported last year that the head coach was having an improper, consensual relationship with a Boston Celtics female staffer. Despite leading the Celtics to its first Finals appearance in 12 years, the illegitimate affair cost Udoka his coaching place within the Boston franchise as he was eventually replaced by his young assistant in Joe Mazzulla.
Udoka went on to express his remorse from what happened as he also took a needed hiatus from professional coaching.
A year after the incident, Udoka recalled his drawing board and signed with the Rockets last April on a reported four-year deal worth $28.5MM to become their newest head coach.
In his first introductory press conference as the team’s latest mentor and from his scandalous Boston exit he took, Udoka revealed that he contemplated deeply from his mistakes and even took time to take part in counseling and sensitivity trainings during months of his coaching inactivity.
“Really, that time off and really a full understanding of how many people you impact with a poor decision, that starts with ownership and accountability,” he said. “I preach that to players. I take responsibility for my part in it. I took leadership and sensitivity training and some counseling with my son to help him improve the situation I put him in.
“You can grow from adversity — and I think I’ve done that this year — if you … take the right steps.”
