Nick Nurse out as Toronto Raptors coach; ex-Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka reportedly targeted as replacement

Nurse coached the Raptors for five seasons and won the championship in 2019

The Toronto Raptors have fired head coach Nick Nurse on Friday. Nurse, who coached the Raptors for five seasons, won the championship in the 2018-19 season (his first as a head coach) and followed that up by winning the NBA's Coach of the Year award in 2020. Former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka is expected to be among the serious candidates to replace Nurse in Toronto, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Nurse compiled a record of 227-163 across his five seasons coaching the Raptors, and reached the playoffs in three of his five seasons at the helm. His only season below .500 with the Raptors came during their COVID-19-impacted season in Tampa, in which they went 27-45 due to the adverse circumstances playing away from home. The Raptors this season spent most of the year below .500 before climbing back up to 41-41 and reaching the Play-In Tournament. However, they lost there to the Chicago Bulls and now Nurse is out in Toronto.

"The decision to make a change like this is never arrived at easily or taken lightly, especially when it comes to a person who has been an integral part of this franchise's most historic accomplishments, and who has been a steady leader through some of our team's most challenging times. As we reflect on Nick's many successes, we thank him and his family, and wish them the best in future," Raptors president Masai Ujiri said in the team statement.