The Toronto Raptors announced on Friday that they had parted ways with their head coach Nick Nurse. The move comes after the Raptors endured a disappointing season that saw them finish with 41-41 and get eliminated in the Play-In tournament.

Nurse is leaving the franchise with whom he spent the previous 10 years. He served as an assistant between 2013 and 2018 before taking on the head coaching role ahead of the 2018-19 NBA season. Nurse led the Raptors to an NBA title in his first season at the helm. 

Firing Nurse comes at the point where the Raptors need to decide on the direction the franchise will take in 2023-24 and beyond. The team’s several key players, including Fred VanVleet and Jakob Poeltl, are free agents, while All-Star Pascal Siakam is set for an extension. As currently constructed, the roster doesn’t seem capable of contending, and it will be up to President Masai Ujiri and the new head coach to decide on how to change that.

According to multiple reports, the Raptors identified ex-Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka as the main candidate to replace Nurse. They are also expected to interview Suns’ assistant Patrick Mutombo and Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse.

Nurse, on the other hand, will likely be pursued by most of the NBA teams that end up having a head coaching vacancy in the offseason. The Houston Rockets are believed to have a strong interest in reuniting with Nurse, who previously coached their affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The post Raptors Fire Head Coach Nick Nurse appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors decided to show their appreciation for head coach Nick Nurse and award him with a new deal. The team announced on Tuesday that Nurse signed a multi-year extension with the organization, although they did not reveal the details of the agreement.

Despite losing superstar Kawhi Leonard in the offseason, Nurse managed to keep the Raptors competitive and lead them to a 53-19 record and No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference this season. Toronto had a solid showing in the playoffs as well but ended up being eliminated in seven games in the conference semis against Boston Celtics.

For his contributions to the Raptors’ form in the 2019/20 season, Nurse previously received the NBA Coach of the Year award.

“Our confidence in Nick just continues to grow, and part of that comes from what we’ve experienced together,” said Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. ” Nick has proved that he can coach on the court and lead in life, and we’re looking forward to accomplishing great things in the future.”

Nick Nurse built his coaching resume serving as an assistant on the college level before embarking on a series of head coaching stints in Europe. Nurse then served with several NBA G League organizations before eventually landing an assistant job with Toronto Raptors.

After the Raptors let go of Dwayne Casey, Nurse took over the head coaching positions ahead of the 2018/19 season and led the franchise to their first NBA title.  

“Toronto has been my home for the past seven years, and I look forward to it being home for many more,” said Nurse after inking the extension. “I’ve watched this franchise grow and reach the pinnacle, and I look forward to the challenge of helping us win another championship.”

The post Toronto Raptors and Head Coach Nick Nurse Agree to an Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Toronto Raptors announced on Friday that they had parted ways with their head coach Nick Nurse. The move comes after the Raptors endured a disappointing season that saw them finish with 41-41 and get eliminated in the Play-In tournament.

Nurse is leaving the franchise with whom he spent the previous 10 years. He served as an assistant between 2013 and 2018 before taking on the head coaching role ahead of the 2018-19 NBA season. Nurse led the Raptors to an NBA title in his first season at the helm. 

Firing Nurse comes at the point where the Raptors need to decide on the direction the franchise will take in 2023-24 and beyond. The team’s several key players, including Fred VanVleet and Jakob Poeltl, are free agents, while All-Star Pascal Siakam is set for an extension. As currently constructed, the roster doesn’t seem capable of contending, and it will be up to President Masai Ujiri and the new head coach to decide on how to change that.

According to multiple reports, the Raptors identified ex-Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka as the main candidate to replace Nurse. They are also expected to interview Suns’ assistant Patrick Mutombo and Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse.

Nurse, on the other hand, will likely be pursued by most of the NBA teams that end up having a head coaching vacancy in the offseason. The Houston Rockets are believed to have a strong interest in reuniting with Nurse, who previously coached their affiliate Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The post Raptors Fire Head Coach Nick Nurse appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Toronto Raptors decided to show their appreciation for head coach Nick Nurse and award him with a new deal. The team announced on Tuesday that Nurse signed a multi-year extension with the organization, although they did not reveal the details of the agreement.

Despite losing superstar Kawhi Leonard in the offseason, Nurse managed to keep the Raptors competitive and lead them to a 53-19 record and No.2 seed in the Eastern Conference this season. Toronto had a solid showing in the playoffs as well but ended up being eliminated in seven games in the conference semis against Boston Celtics.

For his contributions to the Raptors’ form in the 2019/20 season, Nurse previously received the NBA Coach of the Year award.

“Our confidence in Nick just continues to grow, and part of that comes from what we’ve experienced together,” said Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. ” Nick has proved that he can coach on the court and lead in life, and we’re looking forward to accomplishing great things in the future.”

Nick Nurse built his coaching resume serving as an assistant on the college level before embarking on a series of head coaching stints in Europe. Nurse then served with several NBA G League organizations before eventually landing an assistant job with Toronto Raptors.

After the Raptors let go of Dwayne Casey, Nurse took over the head coaching positions ahead of the 2018/19 season and led the franchise to their first NBA title.  

“Toronto has been my home for the past seven years, and I look forward to it being home for many more,” said Nurse after inking the extension. “I’ve watched this franchise grow and reach the pinnacle, and I look forward to the challenge of helping us win another championship.”

The post Toronto Raptors and Head Coach Nick Nurse Agree to an Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.