Nick Nurse

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Lore & Background

Nurse's ascent began as an assistant in July 2013, where he was specifically put in charge of the offense. His strategic changes during the 2017–18 season increased passing and three-point attempts, propelling the Raptors to a franchise-record 59 wins. Following a second-round sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwane Casey was fired, leading to Nurse's promotion on June 14, 2018. In his first full season as head coach, he led the team to a 58–24 record behind offseason acquisition Kawhi Leonard and emerging star Pascal Siakam, who won the NBA's Most Improved Player award. On May 25, 2019, Nurse guided the Raptors past the Milwaukee Bucks in six games to reach their first-ever Eastern Conference Championship. The culmination came on June 13, when the team defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of the Finals, making Nurse the first head coach ever to win both NBA and D-League/G League titles.

In Their Own Story

The 2019–20 season presented unique challenges as the pandemic shortened the campaign. Despite losing Kawhi Leonard, Nurse maintained a high level of play, finishing with a higher win percentage than the previous year's championship squad. The team recorded a 53–19 record in this altered environment. On August 22, 2020, his innovative adjustments were recognized when he was named NBA Coach of the Year and selected as the Eastern Conference representative for the All-Star Game. However, despite this individual accolade, the Raptors could not repeat their playoff success, eliminated in seven games by the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals. Nurse signed a multi-year extension on September 15, 2020, continuing to navigate the team through the pandemic era, which saw them play in Tampa Bay during the 2020–21 season before returning to playoffs in 2022 with 48 wins.

Reader's Guide

Fans of the Toronto Raptors should understand that Nurse's tenure was defined by tactical flexibility and resilience. His coaching style relied on complex defensive schemes and maximizing offensive efficiency, a philosophy proven during the historic 2019 run where injuries were rampant yet the team prevailed. Key turning points include his promotion in June 2018, the Game 6 victory over Golden State in June 2019, and his Coach of the Year award in August 2020. The era concluded on April 21, 2023, when the Raptors announced his firing after failing to make the playoffs following a loss to the Chicago Bulls in the Play-in Tournament. His legacy is cemented by the franchise's first championship and a coach of the year award, setting a standard for adaptability that saw the team finish with a higher win percentage despite losing their Finals MVP.

Did You Know?

• On June 13, 2019, Nurse became the first head coach to win both an NBA title and a D-League/G League championship.
• Nurse was named NBA Coach of the Year on August 22, 2020, despite the Raptors finishing with fewer total wins than their 2018–19 campaign due to the shortened season.
• Before his promotion to head coach in June 2018, Nurse spent five seasons as an assistant under Dwane Casey starting in July 2013.
• In the 2017–18 season, Nurse's offensive adjustments helped the Raptors achieve a franchise-record 59 wins.