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Post by LTFan on May 8, 2019 15:20:29 GMT
This is a fascinating, albeit somewhat lengthy, article on how Nick Nurse took his many years’ experience in the BBL to become the Head coach of the Toronto Raptors – where he’s currently trying to get them to their first ever NBA finals. For anyone who remembers seeing Nick around the BBL this is a very enjoyable read with lots of familiar names contributing from past and present. There’s also some things I never knew, like Nick’s assistant coach in Toronto is a fellow BBL alumni – Phil Handy. Anyway, I’d recommend it, if you’re interested. www.skysports.com/nba/news/36244/11710634/toronto-raptors-head-coach-nick-nurses-nba-journey-has-its-roots-in-britain |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 21:35:07 GMT
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Post by LTFan on May 9, 2019 8:37:52 GMT
He did kill off Brighton Bears, I can’t disagree, but I do believe his intentions were always good. It’s just that he threw caution to the wind with a lot of what he did. A lot of high stakes gambles, that unfortunately the didn’t always pay off. Some did though.
The article also gives the full address of the house Derby provided him during his time there… I wonder if the current residents have any idea that the current Head Coach of the Toronto Raptors, one of the most successful teams in the NBA right now, used to live there.
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Post by Solly on May 9, 2019 16:26:37 GMT
An absorbing read.
Re Phil Handy, I recollect (pre-internet) when the BBL would (incredibly) get weekly game reports in most of the broadsheets. On my way home from work I would often call in at the supermarket to stand and read thru those reports.
To the puzzlement of fellow newspaper-lingerers, I actually laughed out loud when reading the Giants report post-match quote from Nurse who baldly stated "Handy was ****", with those very words being printed uncensored. Sorry, because of this board's auto-censor maybe I should have written "Eartha Kitt", but Nurse didn't use ryhming slang, though arguably that may have been even funnier...
All these years later this recollection still makes I laugh...
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Post by SamH on May 12, 2019 0:03:37 GMT
That was a good read and incredibly detailed. Reading about how he'd travel all over to scout games or find somewhere to play, reminds me of a time he actually came along to a scrimmage session a few of us used to run most Sundays in Littlehampton. We played a few games against other Sussex teams and called ourselves the Brighton Spares. For Nick to actually want to come along to that on his free Sunday evening and play with a bunch of rank amateurs like us just goes to show what a bball junkie he is!
If the Raptors can re-sign Leonard then Nick has a chance at winning an NBA championship which would be incredible. It's not going to be this year but hopefully he'll get a decent run there (more than 3 years seems to be doing well these days in the NBA for coaches!)
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Post by sporty on May 12, 2019 5:51:16 GMT
Going to Brighton to see them play in the International Centre (with a full house, and lots of off court entertainment) is still one of my BBL highlights. I thought at the time,he has got so much right with the set up there and surely this must be the benchmark for othe BBL clubs.
Maybe it is now like that at the new Newcastle Arena.
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Post by SamH on Jun 14, 2019 13:03:35 GMT
Just resurrecting this for those who don't read the NBA thread or follow NBA, but might like to know Nick won the championship last night, capping a remarkable story of (in basketball terms anyway) rags to riches. Obviously having been a Bears fan yes, it sucked how that ended and he left the franchise high and dry - but as a coach his career has been increasingly stunning to follow and I never thought he was going to be a champion this season, the Raptors were not the best team in the NBA all season long. He's a proven winner though, he's won everywhere he's coached (except Team GB  ). I look forward to seeing whats next as in some respects, the only way is down now but can he lead them to a repeat next year, can he stay an NBA head coach for the long haul and become one of the greats? He's got a good 15 years or so left if he wants it so plenty of time to keep making his mark. Or like so many good coaches, he could be out of the league in a few years, such is the nature of the fickle business! |
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Post by interestedridersfan on Jun 17, 2019 7:41:42 GMT
Just resurrecting this for those who don't read the NBA thread or follow NBA, but might like to know Nick won the championship last night, capping a remarkable story of (in basketball terms anyway) rags to riches. Obviously having been a Bears fan yes, it sucked how that ended and he left the franchise high and dry - but as a coach his career has been increasingly stunning to follow and I never thought he was going to be a champion this season, the Raptors were not the best team in the NBA all season long. He's a proven winner though, he's won everywhere he's coached (except Team GB  ). I look forward to seeing whats next as in some respects, the only way is down now but can he lead them to a repeat next year, can he stay an NBA head coach for the long haul and become one of the greats? He's got a good 15 years or so left if he wants it so plenty of time to keep making his mark. Or like so many good coaches, he could be out of the league in a few years, such is the nature of the fickle business! When given the job last year his contract was allegedly $10m over three years So first thing he needs to do is negotiate a much bigger and longer deal and go from there. He's in a position of strength now. |
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). I look forward to seeing whats next as in some respects, the only way is down now but can he lead them to a repeat next year, can he stay an NBA head coach for the long haul and become one of the greats? He's got a good 15 years or so left if he wants it so plenty of time to keep making his mark. Or like so many good coaches, he could be out of the league in a few years, such is the nature of the fickle business!