Raptors Star Denies Having Added Motivation Facing Nick Nurse

Scottie Barnes and Nick Nurse were all business during the reunion on Satuday.

Nick Nurse made his way back to Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night for the first time since the conclusion of the Toronto Raptors’ 2022-2023 NBA season. 

Months after parting ways with the Raptors following a ten-year run as a member of the coaching staff, holding positions as an assistant and head coach, Nurse returned to face the Raptors for the first time as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Oftentimes, NBA players and coaches tend to use the thought of battling a former teammate, ally, or squad in general as a motivational tactic to help boost their confidence going into a matchup.

For Raptors star Scottie Barnes, he didn’t feel that extra something heading into Saturday’s game for a matchup against the Sixers. 

“Nah,” he said when asked if there was added motivation going against Nurse. “You know, just try to go out there and win. Try to beat these guys. Just try to get back on the right track. Come out there in the next game, play better, play harder, try to go out there and win.”

Barnes wasn’t out for revenge against a coach who seemed open to a change of scenery before the Raptors’ 2022-2023 regular season even wrapped up.

At the same time, he didn’t seem overjoyed to reunite with Nurse, either.

“I didn’t really look over there that much,” Barnes explained. “I was focused on the game. But you know… I don’t know. Good to see him, I guess. … I barely saw him, to be honest. I didn’t really see him when he walked in. I wasn’t really looking over there. I was just focused on the game, trying to win.”

Throughout last season, the rumor mill hinted there might’ve been some turmoil in Toronto, with Nurse as a focal point. And considering Barnes is the team’s former fourth-overall pick and Rookie of the Year winner, who just turned 22 in August, he’s viewed as the cornerstone of the franchise these days, which means the Raptors likely made their franchise-altering move to part ways with Nurse by keeping Barnes in mind.

Simply connecting the dots, an outsider might be led to believe that Barnes and Nurse didn’t have the most productive player-coach dynamic. Judging based on Barnes’ comments and body language while discussing the return of Nurse, he didn’t offer any reason to believe otherwise.

At the end of the day, Nurse doesn’t seem to hold any ill will towards his former franchise after being dismissed back in April. Not only did he admit there would be a reflection period following the 2022-2023 season, but Nurse mentioned he believes he’s right where he should be prior to coaching the 76ers to their first win of the regular season.

The Raptors did right by the veteran head coach and presented a tribute video early on during the first quarter of the matchup. Honoring Nurse for his ten years of service with the organization, including the achievement of coaching the franchise to its first NBA Finals victory, Nurse earned the respect of the crowd and went about his business as usual.

The Sixers defeated Barnes and the Raptors 114-107. Nurse took the first win of his Sixers tenure while leaving Toronto once again.

Meanwhile, Barnes and the Raptors are moving past the head coach’s homecoming, focusing up on the road ahead after dropping to 1-2 on the year after back-to-back losses.