JUNE 1: The Sixers have officially hired Nurse as their head coach, the team announced in a press release.
“It’s been a fun challenge coaching against this group over the last five years. Now, I look forward to coaching the Sixers and doing my part to deliver for this tremendous fanbase,” Nurse said in a statement.
Majority owner and managing partner Josh Harris and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey also commented on hiring the former Raptors coach.
“Nick has solidified himself as one of the NBA’s best coaches and I’m excited to welcome him to Philadelphia,” Harris said. “Throughout his career, he has won at multiple levels, including on the biggest stage when he led Toronto to the 2019 NBA title. He is a smart, innovative and determined coach who really stood out in this process. No matter the hurdles we’ve faced, our goal remains to bring a championship to Philadelphia and Nick is the right coach to lead us forward.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Nick Nurse as the new head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers,” Morey added. “His championship pedigree and diversity of experience mixed with his uniquely creative approach made him our top priority. We are confident that his leadership and expertise will help us unlock the full potential of our talented roster and bring an exciting new era of championship basketball to Philadelphia.”
MAY 29: The Sixers are hiring Nick Nurse to be their new head coach, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Nurse, who won a championship with the Raptors in 2018/19, his debut season as an NBA head coach, was dismissed after his fifth season at the helm. Toronto went 41-41 this past season and was eliminated in the play-in tournament.
The 55-year-old holds a career regular season record of 227-163 (.582 winning percentage), as well as 25-16 (.610) in the postseason. The Raptors made the playoffs in three of his five seasons.
Marc Stein first reported that there was growing buzz linking Nurse to Philadelphia. Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer has confirmed Wojnarowski’s report (via Twitter).
Nurse was also a finalist for the head coaching vacancies in Milwaukee and Phoenix, but he reportedly withdrew from consideration for the Bucks job. Milwaukee is hiring his former assistant, Adrian Griffin.
There was speculation that Nurse may have secured an offer — or multiple offers — after withdrawing from Milwaukee’s search. He ultimately chose the Sixers, who had an opening after firing Doc Rivers following another second-round playoff exit.
Nurse is entering the fray as James Harden is expected to decline his player option in search of a long-term deal. Multiple reports have linked Harden to Houston.
Doc, Nurse. Makes sense.
Yesssir
Although I was definitely leaning towards the idea of trading Embiid and starting fresh with this team. It appears that with this hire they have no plans on doing that. Nurse just left Toronto cause by the look of it they plan on doing a rebuild and he had done his time there.
Many are quick to point to Kawhi making his success but rings aren’t the only metric for being labeled a good coach or not.
I like that he’s very smart and modern in the way he sees the game. He’s was brave enough to try something different with his big versatile line ups of recent. He’s great at player development having helped make FVV and Siakim they players they are today.
I think it’ll be interesting to see what he does with James Harden and what direction he wants to take this team. Joel Embiid only has a limited window and because of that I wouldn’t be inclined to give Harden a big expensive contract.
Id be more inclined to do a sign and trade Harden for Kyrie, or PG13. Heck even Harden for Simons and the number 3 pick would be more ideal.
Ultimately good luck to Nick and glad to be moving on from Doc
I like the idea of a S&T with Harden for Simons and #3 for both sides. It frees up the money to pay Maxey and give him a bigger role while using Simons as the gap in points off the bench.
May even be an idea to then trade the #3 for someone like OG or even move down and gain a few talent young players with the likes of Det or Hou. Starting line up of Maxey, Embiid and OG would be a contender with a 20+ scorer off the bench like Simons.
For Portland they have Dame and Harden along with Grant that’s a pretty deadly core for a final few year push for Dames loyalty. Maybe even pursue a good defensive C in the FA.
Yeah any of the three I think would be better than retaining Harden.
Kyrie younger and more of a playoff performer. Great regular season player, solid 3 and D guy and doesn’t mind being the second option at all. Lastly Simons and the pick, as you said either trade them on again for a win now player or your home young and trying again
I can promise you they are not doing a sign and trade for Kyrie. Why on earth would the Mavs want Harden and the ridiculous contract he is about to get. They need to get better on defense and rebounding. Not exactly Hardens strong traits.
Really good post
Can’t tell if sarcasm or not. But hey if so, i stick with the comment.
Was directed at Russ
That’s fair, any talk of moving Embiid to rebuild would be insane. Unless it’s for Wemby to rebuild with. And even then you’re trading a “possible” Lebron/Jordan level team difference maker for the reigning MVP it’s not really worth it.
How do you even value a current MVP in a trade?
To be fair he said leaning, and its probably just stirring from being bounced 2 weeks ago –
It be hard, and I don’t know how regarding trading an MVP
My opinion is they have zero interest in a re-boot- They have Joel Maxey and are super flush after next year to play however they want in the markets -Lot better market to shop in as well 2024 summer
Next season might not be great but it could be a lot worse looking league wide – Id hold Joel as well, show Harden the door for my 2 cents
Embiid will never win Philadelphia a championship if he’s starring as Batman on the team. He’s not a leader. Every year it’s some type of excuse with him that tries to shift the blame from him. He’s just not mentally built to be the centerpiece of a championship team.
He reminds me of Westbrook in some ways. He’ll win you some regular season games, pile up some nice numbers, and if you’re a fan he’s probably fun to watch.
Only an idiot would trade the Mvp who was 7 min away from the conference finals
Yeah cause regular season personal achievements equal team success….
Tell that to Jimmy butler who wasn’t even an all star this year and just lead his team to the NBA finals yet again
And I’m the idiot….
Harden isn’t going to take a sign & trade for that much of a return. He can just sign w/ the team of his cho8ce and it will only $8 different e and he won’t want to handicap his new team in picks,, but he won’t mind seeing Porter moved.
Good, the D’Antoni nonsense can be put to bed.
Outside of a S&T with a non-Rockets team, idk how you do not bring back Harden. You lose way too much talent letting him walk. If it’s Sixers bidding against themselves, 4/100 is more than fair for his age.
Then focus on what to do with Tobias.
Well, the Sixers were diddling around with D’Antoni then Doc Rivers became available and they hired Doc
I don’t think D’Antoni was being considered at all
Someone in the Sixers Organization is decisive, lets see if it works out
Now, Morey has to figure out what to do about the team itself
I don’t think his connection was coincidental.
Ick
Step in something?
I don’t know if this will work…
If Harden comes back that’s 2 injury prone stars and Thibs 2.0 to coach them into playing 40 mins a night…
My thoughts exactly. Although this would have been a bit of the problem for most of the remaining vacancies (KD with the Suns, Middleton and Jrue with the Bucks for simply being old), it’s a worst fit with the Sixers.
That said, I’d argue it’s still a step up from Doc (but that isn’t saying a whole lot). And I’d rather have Nurse than Monty.
Vogel was the game changing hire in terms of the team building an identity. But Nurse is a good coach, and this certainly is an upgrade over the do-nothing Doc Rivers.
Slight upgrade from Doc but Doc 2.0
Ugh, this means my Suns are going to end up with Rivers.
You can have Nate McMillan if you wish real hard.
Good Hire!
Nick nurse is basically Brett Brown where the ball bounced his way
No way man
Nah he’s better
didn’t embiid pretty much call out Nurse at season’s end? like, of he’s your guy, wouldn’t you at least consider running this by him? I mean I get Joel is a good trash talker, and Nurse has more rings than he does, but, if you’re going to live and die with Embiid, then I mean these two will have to hash it out.
Embiid was part of the interview process.
The Process is going to need more than a Nurse to get out of the 2nd round.
If you get a Harden you’re going to the Nurses office.
Good luck shouting at Harden, to play some defense.
Seems like a good hire
Be a miracle if Harden stays in Philly with Nurse. Send him to Portland. Houston has its doors locked and key is not you Harden. Stay with Nurse or go elsewhere
When you are bleeding, Call the Nurse
No one thinks that’s funny or cute.