Fresh off leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, head coach Nick Nurse is set to take on another challenge in his coaching career this summer.
According to Lori Ewing of the Canadian Press, Nurse has agreed to coach Canada at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The 2019 World Cup is the primary qualifier for the 2020 Summer Olympics set to be held in Tokyo next year.
Nick Nurse has agreed to coach Canada’s men’s team at this summers World Cup, a source has confirmed. #Raptors
— Lori Ewing (@Ewingsports) May 26, 2019
Nick Nurse was stellar in his first season as an NBA head coach, leading the Raptors to a second-place 58-24 record. In an impressive turnaround, Nurse and the Raptors were able to come back from a 2-game hole against Milwaukee and take the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2.
Nurse’s primary goal with Team Canada this summer is ensuring them a spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics. The up-and-coming coach will have some talent on his roster to work with, including the likes of NBA standouts Andrew Wiggins, Jamal Murray and Tristan Thompson. One of the top prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft, Canada native RJ Barrett will also be eligible for the World Cup this summer.
