NBA 2022-23
While it hasn’t been confirmed – mainly because we’re still in season and the Raptors may possibly make the 1st round of the playoffs – everyone connected has said enough to let us know that Nick Nurse’s tenure with the Raptors is over at the end of the season. Sad but true, you read it here first.
It all started out strangely. You may recall back in 2018, the Head Coach of the Raptors won the Coach of the Year award! A week later he was fired, Nurse was promoted from his assistant to full fledged Head Coach and his tenure began. Poor Dwayne Casey. This corner of Bob and Jim wasn’t happy that Masai didn’t dig deeply into the war chest and pay out big, big for a proven, experienced coach.
But Masai defied my criticism and Nurse took the Raptors to a championship in his first year. So much for an inexperienced coach. He was soundly criticized for using ‘jenky’ defenses in the playoffs but you can’t criticize success. Toronto beat Golden State in 6 games to win their first and so far only Larry O’Brian trophy – on the road. Oh, and Nurse won his own CotY award.
The following year COVID came calling and it derailed what was turning into another very successful season. Certainly had Kawhi Leonard taken his one year option, the Raptors would have repeated. Since that season, however, the Raptors began to slip and this season they are in deep trouble just trying to make the playoffs.
Born in Carroll, Iowa, Nick played basketball for the University of Northern Iowa from 1985-89. He played in 111 games and still holds the school’s all-time 3-point percentage at .468.
Not getting drafted, Nick moved to England and began as a player/coach in his first year and moved into full time coaching the following year in the English professional league. He stayed in Europe for 11 years and won 2 championships and 2 coach of the year awards.
He moved back to the U.S. in 2007 and began coaching in the D League for the Iowa Energy and in 2013 was hired on to the Toronto Raptors by Dwayne Casey and the rest you know.
They say coaches are hired to be fired but in this case, it seems that he may have been lured away. Rumour has it Houston wants him. Nick had a great run here in Toronto culminating in a championship and not many NBA Head Coaches can claim that prize. When asked about his future after the Philly game, Nick indicated that he was going to take a few weeks to figure out what he wants to do next year – because he’s still focused on this season and the playoffs.
If he does go, the Raptors have plenty of options from assistant coaches Adrian Griffin and Earl Watson to Frank Vogel or Kenny Atkinson and more. Masai will have several solid choices from which to pick and has already been linked to Ime Udoka.
Good luck in Houston Nick and wherever the voyage takes you after that. Thank you for your service, your part in our Championship run and best of luck with the new club.