The reigning NBA champions, Toronto Raptors, have a chance to clean sweep the Nets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. After losing 2-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Clippers in free agency, Raptors were expected to have a poor season.
But the Raptors proved everyone wrong and clinched the second seed in the East. Moreover, they had a record of 53-19 and have continued that form in the postseason. The mastermind behind the success of Raptors is none other than head coach Nick Nurse.
Nurse guided Toronto to the first NBA championship in franchise history in his debut season as a head coach. Nurse has now added the 2019-20 NBA coach of the year award to his resume.
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Nick Nurse has been instrumental for the Toronto Raptors
Did you know that Nick Nurse won a high school championship way before becoming an NBA champion? He was a player for the Kuemper Knights at that time. The team, coached by Wayne Chandlee, took home the 3A basketball championship during Nick’s high school days.
Nurse was invited to join the NBA on TNT, and NBA analyst Ernie Johnson had a surprise for him. Coach Chandlee was there to deliver a piece of good news to the Raptors’ head coach.
“Hey, congratulations on being the NBA coach of the year for 2019-20. Holy cow, what an honor. Very well deserved. No staff or coach works harder than you and your staff. You are a class and a very gracious coach and you are always willing to give back. Congratulations.”
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Nick teared up a little on receiving this surprise. Nick replied, “Hey, thanks a lot, man that’s really cool. Coach Chandlee is a great man, a great coach.”
Nick Nurse’s high school coach Wayne Chandlee joins TNT to announce him as the 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year. pic.twitter.com/07he51qX2C
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 22, 2020
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Ever since taking up the position as Raptors’ head coach, he has made them instant contenders to win the title. In his two seasons as Raptors coach, the team has played 154 games and won 111 out of them in the regular season.
Taking into account the excellent form of Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet, the Raptors have a very good chance to repeat this season.