Everyone knows the Coldplay scandal now, so there’s no point rehashing it. Chris Martin probably carries guilt heavier than stage lights. Astronomer CEO Andy Byron flat-out cheated on his wife with head of HR Kristin Cabot. And he made zero effort to hide it. But Stephen A. Smith didn’t stay quiet. He called them out with full intensity. Why? He watched Ime Udoka create the same chaos inside the Celtics organization. That memory still stings. Smith draws a hard line when personal recklessness wrecks team trust. He’s not just reacting — he’s connecting the dots from experience.

Udoka threw the NBA into chaos when he broke Celtics team rules by having a relationship with a female staffer. The franchise caught wind, launched an internal investigation, and quickly realized things weren’t just a little messy—they were full-blown scandalous. The front office didn’t blink; they suspended him for the entire 2022–23 season and issued a very public statement. Players felt blindsided, fans exploded on Twitter, and suddenly the locker room had more tension than a Game 7. Eventually, the Celtics cut ties entirely, promoted Joe Mazzulla, and watched Udoka become a cautionary tale in NBA coaching circles.

“You shouldn’t have been with anybody to begin with. I mean, honor your vows or don’t get married. But I’m not judging, because a whole bunch of married people cheat—I get that,” said SAS. “That’s what pissed me off about the whole Ime Udoka scandal with the Boston Celtics. Because I know a whole bunch of people getting loose in the workplace in pro sports, and they weren’t put on front street the way Ime Udoka was. And he wasn’t even the one who was married—she was.”

Udoka might be coaching atop the West with Houston, but that Boston Celtics scandal will follow him like a shadow forever. Even with Kevin Durant joining the Rockets in a blockbuster summer trade, Udoka’s past still lingers like a bad press clipping. You can rewrite narratives with wins, sure—but some chapters stick no matter how the story ends. Boston fans haven’t forgotten, and the NBA’s old heads still whisper about that locker room bombshell. Udoka can build a dynasty in Texas if he wants, but that misstep in green will haunt him till he’s six feet deep – somewhere Andy Byron hopes to find himself soon.

Stephen A. Smith doesn’t hold back at Andy Byron either

You just know Stephen A. Smith wasn’t going to let this one slide—not when real-life drama outdid even his wildest takes. He’s made a career out of yelling into mics, but this time, the Coldplay mess handed him a golden buzzer. Say what you want about his delivery, but when it comes to holding people accountable, the man rarely misses. SAS might not always sit pretty with the public, but on this? He hit the nail harder than a Shaq dunk. And honestly, with this saga turning heads globally, his outrage might be the sanest voice in the room.

“You didn’t think someone else in the stands might be a member of your company, Astronomer,” said Smith. And they might notice, “Ain’t that the person from HR?” So much for going to them for assistance. If I’ve got a problem with the boss—I mean, you don’t see the conflict of interest? You didn’t see that… In other words, you missed a big shot, and now you’ve got that kind of cachet. And because you’ve got that kind of cachet, your position at your workplace gives you the opportunity to hook up with someone you probably wouldn’t have had a chance with otherwise. This is a $1.3 billion company.”

No one—and we mean no one—wants their name dragged through the same muck as the Rockets HC or Andy Byron right now. Sure, Udoka clawed his way out of NBA exile and found new life with the Houston Rockets, but that path had lava on it. Byron? The man’s still free-falling with no PR parachute in sight, and the ground’s not looking too forgiving either. Smith’s take? Predictably blunt and painfully accurate: “Don’t be stupid enough to get caught up like that—ever.” And honestly, with careers, reputations, and trust on the line, he’s not wrong. Prevention beats damage control every time.