Nick Nurse Responds Bluntly To Lakers Rumors


The Los Angeles Lakers have a head coaching vacancy. Naturally, rumors will have them linked to all of the biggest names in the industry. Today, one of those names, Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, responded with puzzlement to talk tying him to the Lakers. 

"I don't know where that stuff comes from," said Nurse, "and I'm focused on coaching this team. How about that?"

Nurse led the Raptors to a 48-34 record this season, far exceeding expectations, and gave the Philadelphia 76ers a scare in their first-round six-game series. He has a championship title to his credit from 2019, and a Coach of the Year award from his work in the follow-up season, 2020, when he led the Raptors to the 2nd-best record in the NBA in their title-defense year. 

But Nurse is represented by Klutch Sports — yes, that Klutch Sports, Rich Paul, that represents LeBron James and Anthony Davis, so the rumors would seem to have been inevitable. 

Nurse has flatly shot them down in his meeting with the media Monday morning. 

And if that earlier comment doesn't show where Nurse's loyalties lie, his thoughts about the team and the city he does represent should set the record straight.  

When asked about the Raptors' chances of landing free agents, Nurse responded, “We have a winning team, a first-class organization, amazing fans, an unbelievable city... I would want to play here if I was a Free Agent.”

Photo Credit:  Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports