Nia Long and Ime Udoka were together for 13 years. They never married.
Their relationship began in 2010, produced one son, and ended in late 2022. This timeline separates what is confirmed from the confusion that has built up around them online.
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Credit: people.com
Who Are Nia Long and Ime Udoka?
Nia Long is an American actress known for films and television including Boyz n the Hood, Friday, Soul Food, Love Jones, and The Best Man.
Ime Udoka is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player who later became an NBA head coach. He is now head coach of the Houston Rockets.
Long is also the mother of an older son, Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, from her earlier relationship with actor Massai Z. Dorsey. That relationship did not result in a marriage.
Nia Long and Ime Udoka Relationship Timeline
2010: They Meet and Start Dating
Long and Udoka met in February 2010 and were introduced through a mutual friend. They began dating that year.
At the time, Udoka was still playing professional basketball. Long was already an established actress.
7 November 2011: Their Son Kez Is Born
On 7 November 2011, Long gave birth to their son, Kez Sunday Udoka.
Kez is the couple’s only child together. He is Long’s younger son.
May 2015: They Get Engaged
Udoka and Long became engaged in May 2015.
Long had said in earlier interviews that marriage was not a priority for her. She did not say she would never marry, but the couple did not set a wedding in motion in the years that followed.
2021: Udoka Becomes Boston Celtics Head Coach
In June 2021, Udoka was appointed head coach of the Boston Celtics.
By then, Long and Udoka had been together for more than a decade.
September 2022: Udoka Is Suspended by the Celtics
In September 2022, the Boston Celtics suspended Udoka for the 2022-23 season for violations of team policies.
Reports at the time said the suspension followed an intimate and consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff. Udoka later left the Celtics and moved on to coach the Houston Rockets.
December 2022: Long and Udoka Split
On 6 December 2022, Long’s representative confirmed that Long and Udoka were no longer together.
The representative said both remained fully committed to co-parenting their son, Kez.
That ended a 13-year relationship and a seven-year engagement.
2025: Long Says They Have Found Peace as Co-Parents
In a 2025 cover story for The Cut, Long said she and Udoka had reached a place of peace and understanding.
She said they had travelled together that summer with Kez and had a great time.
The focus, she made clear, was their son and a calmer co-parenting relationship after a very public split.
At a Glance
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Met and began dating | February 2010 |
| Son Kez Sunday Udoka born | 7 November 2011 |
| Engaged | May 2015 |
| Udoka suspended by the Boston Celtics | September 2022 |
| Split confirmed | 6 December 2022 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Were Nia Long and Ime Udoka married?
No. They were engaged from 2015 to 2022, but they never married.
How many children do Nia Long and Ime Udoka have together?
One. Their son, Kez Sunday Udoka, was born on 7 November 2011.
Does Nia Long have another child?
Yes. Her older son is Massai Zhivago Dorsey II, born in 2000. His father is actor Massai Z. Dorsey.
Are Nia Long and Ime Udoka back together?
No verified report says they have reconciled as a couple. What Long has described since the split is peaceful co-parenting, not a renewed romance.
Where is Ime Udoka now?
Udoka is head coach of the Houston Rockets. Long continues to act and to co-parent Kez with him.
