The Toronto Raptors Have Fired Head Coach Nick Nurse & Here's How People Are Reacting
Fans are split.
Nick Nurse is out as the Toronto Raptors' head coach.
The news, which was confirmed in a statement shared by TSN's Josh Lewenberg, on Friday, comes after the Toronto Raptors missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, finishing with a 32-40 record.
Nurse, who was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2019, had been the head coach of the Toronto Raptors for five seasons, leading the team to their first-ever NBA championship. However, the past two seasons have been a struggle for the team, with key players departing and injuries affecting the roster.
Judging by fans' reactions online, the decision to fire Nurse is controversial, leaving many shocked.
An outpour of support from fans could be seen as well on Twitter, with many praising the coach.
However, others were more accepting of the news, believing a significant change was needed to get the team back on track.
Nurse has yet to release a statement on firing. However, Raptors president and vice chairman Masai Uji has offered up the following comment, according to TSN:
"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. As we reflect on Nick's many successes, we thank him and his family, and wish them the best in future," Uji said.
"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," he added.
Nurse has yet to release a statement on his firing. However, he did offer up some parting remarks about the 2023 season on Instagram last week.
"Listen, I love it here…and we have built a really strong culture," he said. "We got to all evaluate how we can get that culture back where we need it and get back to being a playoff team and then getting to a level of winning it all."