Hmm… I’m not sure if this is a good move or not.
After five seasons as head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Nick Nurse has been fired, according to a Friday announcement from the franchise via ESPN.
Ime Udoka, the former head coach of the Boston Celtics, is expected to be a top candidate for the Raptors‘ new man, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Toronto made the move after team president Masai Ujiri and Nurse met multiple times since the team’s postseason elimination to discuss the future. Nurse had one year and over $8 million left on his current deal with the Raptors, according to ESPN sources.
“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, and who has been a steady leader through some of our team’s most challenging times,” said Ujiri in an official statement. “As we reflect on Nick’s many successes, we thank him and his family, and wish them the best in future.
“This is an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.”
Nurse is expected to be a serious candidate for the Houston Rockets’ vacant head coaching position, according to ESPN.
Nick Nurse is out as Raptors coach, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HEKwTAdfUH
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2023
I don’t know if I agree with this move.
Nurse was the one who brought the Toronto Raptors their very first NBA championship in franchise history back in the 2018-19 season The next year, he was named the 2020 NBA Coach of the Year. All-time, Nurse tallied a winning 227-163 record with Toronto with three playoff appearances.
I understand the Raptors finished with a .500 41-41 record this season and lost in the play-in tournament to the Chicago Bulls in the 9-10 game, but it’s still a playoff appearance. And Nurse is still the one with the championship ring on his finger. It’s impressive that he did that with just one superstar in Kawhi Leonard. He’s proven that he’s an awesome head coach, he just has no talent to work with right now. And I’m sorry, but you can’t win without talent. (RELATED: Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid And James Harden Both Hit Brooklyn Nets Players In The Groin During 102-97 Game 3 Win)
Yeah … I don’t agree with Toronto on this one. I would’ve retained Nurse, at least for another season.