Iowa Native Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors Part Ways

Nick Nurse burst onto the scene as Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2019, winning a title in his first season guiding the team.

Now, just a few years removed from said title, the team and the Iowa native have parted ways.

Nurse, who was born in Carroll, Iowa and played college basketball at Northern Iowa, had made 3 playoff appearances in five years as the team's Head Coach.

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Per ESPN.com:

The Toronto Raptors fired coach Nick Nurse on Friday, clearing the way for Ime Udoka to become a serious candidate to replace him, sources told ESPN.

Nurse, who coached the Raptors to the franchise's first NBA title in 2019, met with team president Masai Ujiri several times in recent days before a decision was made Friday to dismiss him, sources said.

"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," Ujiri said in a statement. "As we reflect on Nick's many successes, we thank him and his family, and wish them the best in future.

"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."

Sources said Nurse had one year and more than $8 million left on his contract.

It's rebuild time in Toronto, and they'll do it just a few years removed from winning it all in 2019 with Nick Nurse.

Source: ESPN.com