Latest news with #NickNurse
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
76ers Sign Former McDonald's All-American After NBA Draft
76ers Sign Former McDonald's All-American After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia 76ers used the No. 3 pick to select Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, then selected Auburn center Johni Broome at No. 35 in the second round. Advertisement They seemed set, firmly building around their veteran core and rising young guard Tyrese Maxey. Along similar lines, they made news again on Thursday. Shortly after the second round closed, the Sixers moved fast. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, 'Wake Forest's Hunter Sallis has agreed to a two‑way NBA contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.' A former McDonald's All‑American, Sallis began at Gonzaga with a limited role over two seasons before transferring to Wake Forest. There, he earned First‑Team All‑ACC honors twice (2024, 2025) and averaged approximately 18 points per game both seasons. Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images His junior year boasted an efficient 40% three‑point shooting, but it dipped to 27.7% in his final season, likely contributing to his undrafted status. Advertisement Still, Sallis brought elite athleticism, a 6‑foot‑5 frame, 6‑10 wingspan, plus solid mid‑range scoring and finishing at the rim. The two‑way deal gives Sallis a chance in both the NBA and the G‑League. He'll join Alex Reese on two‑way duties as Philadelphia boosts its guard depth. Summer League will be his proving ground. For the Sixers, this move reflects Philadelphia's president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey's track record of identifying undrafted talent. If Sallis can recover his deep shooting and maintain his scoring aggressiveness, he offers upside as a secondary ball‑handler and perimeter scorer. As John Fanta of Fox Sports noted, it's 'a very good undrafted pickup.' Advertisement All eyes move to training camp and the Summer League. If Sallis shows improved three‑point consistency and court awareness, he may earn a full roster spot. Related: WNBA Player Loses Tooth After Taking Brutal Elbow This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Ex-Raptors head coach Nick Nurse receives honorary degree from York University
Former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says his life changed a lot after winning the NBA championship in 2019. Nurse reflected on his coaching career during a convocation ceremony on Friday at York University, which awarded him an honorary doctor of laws. He was among the six 'influential changemakers' who received an honorary degree. According to the university, the recipients are recognized for their contributions to community building, their advocacy for social justice and their philanthropy. 'After we won the championship, my life changed a lot,' Nurse said during his speech. Raptors Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, centre left, holds Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy after defeating the Golden State Warriors basketball action in Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, June 13, 2019. Raptors have won their first NBA title in franchise history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn He shared that when he was tapped to be the head coach of the Raptors in 2018, he was ready for the job 'because of all the thousands of games I coached.' Before landing the role, Nurse was an assistant coach for the team. He began coaching at 23, leading the Grand View College in Des Moines. Nurse also spent 11 seasons in Europe coaching in the British Basketball League and then took a job in the NBA G-League. 'I tried everything, and I kept the stuff that worked, I crumpled up the stuff that didn't, I polished the stuff that worked. And the point is, someday, that opportunity is going to come to you and something you're really dreaming about or passionate about, but you want to be ready for it,' said Nurse, who is currently the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. 'You want to be ready for it because that's what builds the confidence to be able to go out there and execute it.' Nurse also imparted some lessons he learned on and off the court. He recounted what he saw in the locker room during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. 'All the players are sitting around. There's a board up there that says, 'Steph Curry, who's going to guard him? Don't let him do this. Watch out for this. Draymond Green, who's going to do this?' All this serious basketball, X's and O's. And somebody snuck up there when I wasn't looking—I don't know who—and wrote, 'Let it rip,' on the corner of the board," Nurse recalled. 'The team looked up there and said, 'Come on, man, Game six. Let's let it rip.'' The Raptors beat the Warriors 114-112 in that game to hoist their first Larry O'Brien championship trophy. 'So, when you leave here today, let it rip,' Nurse said. His foundation has funded music programs at the university for the past four years.
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How hot are seats of Sixers' Nick Nurse, Daryl Morey amid tough season?
How hot are seats of Sixers' Nick Nurse, Daryl Morey amid tough season? The Philadelphia 76ers struggled through a miserable 24-58 season in 2024-25. This was not supposed to happen after all of the moves they made in the 2024 offseason as they loaded up the roster to contend for a championship. The Sixers snagged 9-time All-Star Paul George in free agency on a 4-year $212 million deal, they extended Joel Embiid for another three years, kept Tyrese Maxey in tow long term, and filled the roster with proven veteran role players. Unfortunately, Embiid played only 19 games, George played 41, and the star trio only played 18 games together--finishing 15 of those games. Due to the bad luck, coach Nick Nurse and President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey still have their jobs. It is very hard to justify moving on from either after a perfect storm of everything that could go wrong did. One can't control injuries and the Sixers understand that which is why both men still have their jobs. With that being said, one has to wonder how hot the seats are heading into 2025-26. ESPN's Brian Windhorst hopped on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" and stated: I think they (team governors Josh Harris and David Blitzer) are giving him the grace that this was a terrible year in terms of injury and misfortune. What I would say to both Daryl and Nick is, you have no margin for error now. If next year isn't an excellent year—I would say that the hottest seats in the NBA right now are probably Daryl Morey and Nick Nurse. The Sixers are very confident that if they get all three players back healthy in 2025-26, then they are serious contenders in the East. It makes a lot of sense to think that way as those three stars are three of the best in the league with Embiid being a top 3 player when he's healthy while Maxey is only getting better. The issue is that George will turn 35 on May 2 while Embiid will be battling from yet another knee surgery. While Embiid is superhuman--he has battled through a ton of injuries in his career--one has to wonder how long he can really keep playing at such an elite level after what is his second knee surgery in 14 months. Nurse and Morey don't deserve to be fired after what transpired in 2024-25. They will get another chance with this group, but like Windhorst said, their seats will certainly be hot heading into the new season.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
76ers Dealt Unfortunate News This Weekend
The Philadelphia ͏76ers faced off against the Toronto Raptors ͏on Sunday night at the Wells Fargo Cente͏r. Heading into the contest, the Sixers were still mathematically in the NBA playoff race, even if all parties involved would likely wish for the season to be over. Unfortunately, Philadelphia͏ couldn't r͏i͏se to the challenge, falling 12͏7-109͏ to the Raptors.͏ ͏With the loss, the 76͏ers have ͏officially been eliminated fro͏m playof͏f content͏io͏n for͏ the first time͏ since th͏e 2͏016-͏17 seas͏on͏. Advertisement Th͏e loss marks t͏he Sixers' eighth straight de͏feat, highlightin͏g a rough stretch for the ͏team. It is not all bad news for the 76ers as the NBA lottery race at the bottom of the standings. All eyes are on the race for the No. 1 pick with Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg a heavy favorite to hear his name called first. The Sixers currently sit at fifth in the odds to land the No. 1 pick with a 10.5% chance, per Tankathon. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse looks on during the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Streicher-Imagn Images It͏'s ͏a bitter͏ end͏ to a ͏seaso͏n ͏that started with NBA playoff͏ ambitions after landing Paul George in free agency. Philadelphia has been a regular in the ͏post͏season ͏over the͏ past fe͏w years, making deep runs behind ͏star talent like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Advertisement But͏ inju͏ries and inco͏n͏sistency͏ derailed the hopes for the 2024-25 season. Now, with a 23-5͏2 record, the focus shifts to the͏ future. There is ͏a silver lining. The Sixers no͏w have a strong chance͏ at securing the No. 1 pick in͏ the NBA Draft Lott͏ery͏, set fo͏r May ͏12. Wh͏ile͏ missing͏ t͏he playoffs is a tough pi͏l͏l ͏to swallow, landing one of the top picks could help ͏reshape the roster. Related: 76ers Sign 15-Points Per Game Scorer Weeks Before NBA Season Ends
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NBA coaches on the hot seat: Who could be in trouble after Nuggets fire Michael Malone?
NBA coaches on the hot seat: Who could be in trouble after Nuggets fire Michael Malone? Show Caption Hide Caption 2025 NBA Awards Predictions: Betting Favorites or the Field Can MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander win his first MVP or will Jokic upset the favorite and win his fourth? The Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins with just more than two weeks left in the regular season. The Denver Nuggets dismissed head coach Michael Malone with just three games remaining. Consider this: The coaches who won NBA championships in 2019 (Nick Nurse, then with the Toronto Raptors), 2020 (Frank Vogel, then with the Los Angeles Lakers), 2021 (Mike Budenholzer, then with the Milwaukee Bucks) and 2023 (Malone) are no longer with that team. It seems unlikely another coach will be fired before the regular season ends, but who knows. Regardless, there is the possibility other coaches won't return to the same team next season. Don't forget, the Sacramento Kings have an interim coach and will be looking for a permanent hire. Let's look at other coaches who are on the hot seat: NBA coaches on the hot seat Willie Green, New Orleans Pelicans The Pelicans have been derailed by injuries. That's not Green's fault. He made the Pelicans a better team, going 36-46 in 2021-22, 42-40 in 2022-23 and 49-33 last season. But this season, they are 21-57 with the fourth-worst record in the league. Green's future also depends on the future of the front office, led by David Griffin. If Griffin doesn't return, a new head of basketball operations likely would select a new head coach. Chris Finch, Minnesota Timberwolves Finch is a solid coach who led the Timberwolves to 56 victories and the Western Conference finals last season. However, they won't reach last season's win total and they are in a tight race to stay out of the play-in tournament. Playoff success could determine Finch's future with the team. Also, he was not president of basketball operations Tim Connelly's hire, and the Timberwolves are about to change owners with a group led by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore buying the team from Glen Taylor. Mike Budenholzer, Phoenix Suns Would the Phoenix Suns really fire three coaches in as many seasons? With the way owner Mat Ishbia has handled Phoenix's lack of deep playoff runs, anything is in play. Budenholzer was brought in to improve the team after former coach Frank Vogel's squad got swept in the first round of last year's playoffs. But with four games remaining in the season, Budenholzer's Suns have failed to make the Kevin Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal experiment work, are 14 victories behind last season's record and — sitting 2½ games out of the play-in picture — are dangerously close to crashing out in spectacular fashion. Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers After acquiring Paul George in the offseason, the Sixers came in with massive expectations that were quickly derailed because of injuries. Joel Embiid played just 19 games, George — whose play declined significantly when he was on the court, anyway — appeared in 41 games and Tyrese Maxey played 52 games. The three played together just 15 times, though Philadelphia went just 7-8 in those contests. George and Embiid are very early in onerous contracts that could complicate next season, and beyond.
