Raptors Cut Ties with Head Coach Nick Nurse
It’s the end of an era for the Toronto Raptors.
According to multiple reports, Nick Nurse is out as head coach. He has served as the head coach for five full seasons, carrying a record of 227-163.
Taking over the Toronto job after serving as an assistant under Dwane Casey, Nurse helped lead the organization to its first-ever NBA championship during his initial season on the job. He quickly became one of the most widely-respected leaders in the game, winning the Coach of the Year award in 2020.
Rumors swirled all season long that this could be Nurse’s last in Toronto. While his run with the franchise can be considered a success, the team was struggling to stay at a .500 mark this season before losing to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the Play-In Tournament.
Overall, Nurse has spent the entirety of his NBA coaching career – which has now spanned a decade – with the Raptors, and there was just a feeling that perhaps his voice has fallen a bit flat inside the organization. He seemingly spoke to this point when addressing his future in late- March, stating that he would need to take a few weeks after the season to see where his relationship with the Raptors stands.
Arguably the hottest coaching target on the market, Nurse is now reportedly in strong consideration for the Houston Rockets, who let Stephen Silas go at the conclusion of their season. The Rockets are coming off three-straight seasons where they have won no more than 22 games. Sporting one of the youngest rosters in the game, the hope would be that Nurse can come in and begin to pave a clearer path.
Meanwhile, the Raptors are looking at former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka, per Woj. Udoka was suspended for a full season after having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member in Boston.
