Toronto Raptors have had some great coaches in the past, however, the best would be Nick Nurse. Starting his coaching career in the NBA with the Raptors, he established himself as a champion. Nurse joined the Raptors back in 2013 as an assistant coach and became the head coach in 2018. A year later he would lead the team to its first-ever NBA title in franchise history, however, failed to replicate it ahead.
The Raptors announced their decision to part ways with Nurse, which comes with bitter disappointment. The 2020 Coach of the Year was left with a year remaining on his contract and was fired after a disappointing season. This season the Raptors finished the season with a 41-41 record and got knocked out in the play-in tournament. This loss confirmed the time coming to an end for the NBA champion on their official site.
Forever grateful. Thank you, Nick Nurse
More: https://t.co/k32XKJIZxu pic.twitter.com/dofkvgiEOA
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 21, 2023
Before he took charge at the Raptors, he worked under Dwane Casey. Casey won the Coach of the Year award in 2018. However, a humiliating loss in the playoffs against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers prompted the management to fire him as well. Since then, Nurse has been a capable man for the job. Regardless of his time at the Raptors, he couldn’t make much more with the Raptors.
Nick Nurse’s time with the Toronto Raptors comes to an end of a disappointing season
There were signs during this season, which pointed to the possibility of this being his last season at the Raptors. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the future of Nurse would come under the radar after the postseason. “expected to come into focus,” Charania said, “There’s been frustration throughout the roster and staff with the team’s play at points of this season,” Charania added, “and that has been directed toward Nurse at times too, according to sources.”
Official statement from the Raptors on their coaching change: https://t.co/Ep4B8Ya4JF pic.twitter.com/dSw2BYkGll
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 21, 2023
The Raptors thanked him for his services and announced their decision. “The decision to make a change like this is never arrived at easily or taken lightly, especially when it comes to a person who has been an integral part of this franchise’s most historic accomplishments,” Ujiri said, “As we reflect on Nick’s many successes, we thank him and his family, and wish them the best in future,” Uriji added in the statement.
Nurse ended the season with a 41-41 record, which only guaranteed them in the play-in tournament. However, they couldn’t progress further with the loss against the Bulls. Overall in his 5 seasons with the Raptors, he managed to keep a record of 227-163. This record places him in the top 50 all-time in win percentage. He remains the only coach to lead the Raptors to an NBA title.
