Report: Nick Nurse to Be Considered as 76ers Replacement for Doc Rivers

Former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse is expected to be among those considered for the Philadelphia 76ers coaching vacancy following the firing of Doc Rivers

Aaron Rose | May 16, 2023

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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And now, another opening for Nick Nurse.

Just days after the Phoenix Suns opted to part ways with Monty Williams, the Philadelphia 76ers have reportedly dismissed Doc Rivers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The decision creates the fifth current head coaching vacancy and another opportunity for the former Toronto Raptors head coach to find a home for next season.

Nurse is already expected to be among those considered for the 76ers job, according to Wojnarowski. He’ll join a list that includes Mike Budenholzer, Sam Cassell, Mike D’Anoni, Frank Vogel, and Williams

The 76ers and Nurse have a lengthy track record with one another dating back to Nurse’s first season as head coach of the Raptors in 2018-19. He, Marc Gasol, and the Raptors were a notoriously tough team for 76ers star Joel Embiid who at times praised Toronto’s defense against him.

More recently, though, Embiid has been publicly critical of Nurse and Toronto. He questioned the Raptors’ defensive strategy this season, claiming Toronto just wanted to stop him rather than win the game. More recently, he criticized Nurse’s non-stop complaining about officials following Philadelphia’s Game 2 playoff victory against the Brooklyn Nets.

Nurse has also been tied to the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns jobs. He was believed to be a candidate for Houston before the Rockets opted to sign Ime Udoka.

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