Philadelphia 76ers hire Nick Nurse as coach to lead them to their first title in 40 years

According to sources at ESPN, Nick Nurse has been hired by the Philadelphia 76ers as their new coach. The Sixers were competing with the Phoenix Suns for Nurse’s commitment, and he had a difficult decision to make between the two contending teams. However, Nurse’s desire to coach MVP Joel Embiid and his history with Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey played a significant role in his decision to accept the deal with Philadelphia.

Nurse’s Vision for the Sixers

Nurse won the Sixers over with his vision of the team centered on Embiid. He will now be part of a Sixers organization that is working to re-sign James Harden, who is expected to become a free agent this summer.

Nurse’s Coaching Record

Nurse coached the Toronto Raptors this season, where he oversaw an aggressive style of defense. Under his guidance, the Raptors became the first team to record the most steals while allowing the fewest since the stat was initially tracked in 1973-74. They also led the league in points per game off turnovers while allowing the fewest. Nurse posted a 227-163 (.582) record with Toronto, winning the 2019 NBA championship and the 2020 Coach of the Year award during his tenure.

Nurse Replaces Doc Rivers

Nurse will be replacing Doc Rivers as the Sixers’ coach. Rivers was dismissed after leading the Sixers to three trips to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Sixers lost in Game 7 to the Boston Celtics in this year’s conference semifinals. Embiid will be the first player since the Lakers’ Magic Johnson in 1990-91 to win the MVP and start the next season on the same team with a new coach.

In summary, the Philadelphia 76ers have hired Nick Nurse as their new coach, with the goal of leading the team to their first title in 40 years. Nurse’s desire to coach Joel Embiid and his history with Daryl Morey played a significant role in his decision to choose the Sixers over the Phoenix Suns. Nurse’s vision for the team centered on Embiid, and he will now be part of an organization working to re-sign James Harden. Nurse’s coaching record with the Toronto Raptors is impressive, having led the team to an NBA championship and a Coach of the Year award during his tenure. He will be replacing Doc Rivers as the Sixers’ coach and will be tasked with leading the team to the next level.