'I'm focused on coaching this team': Raptors' Nurse quells Lakers rumours_freckle removal ottawa
Social Sharing
Reported top head coach target in L.A. has 2 seasons remaining on contract
Lori Ewing · The Canadian Press(Matt Slocum/Associated Press)Soon after Nick Nurse sat down with the media in his traditional season-ending press conference on Monday, the Raptors head coach planned to meet with team president Masai Ujiri.
The two planned to rehash the season, said Nurse, with everything up for discussion. How can he coach better? How can the team play better? How can they make the roster better?
While reports last month had Nurse as a top target for filling the Lakers' head coaching position after Frank Vogel was fired at the end of the regular season, he certainly didn't sound Monday like he was going anywhere.
He went as far as to brush aside the rumours entirely.
"I don't know where that stuff comes from, and I'm focused on coaching this team," Nurse said.
The Lakers and Vogel parted ways after L.A. failed to reach the post-season.
Nurse, who has two more seasons on the contract extension he signed with the Raptors in the fall of 2020, talked to reporters for 40 minutes on Monday after the team was ousted from the playoffs by Philadelphia in six games last Thursday.
A season that began with low expectations amid huge question marks about the roster ended with a sense of pleasant surprise. Nurse called it a "great season." His young roster had been a revelation, enduring setbacks around COVID-19 and injuries to earn the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. They beat the league's best teams in the regular season with hustle and hard work, a lunch-bucket identity largely stamped into the Raptors' culture by Kyle Lowry before the all-star guard left for Miami.
WATCH l 76ers oust Raptors from playoffs:
.jpg?crop=1.777xh:h;*,*&downsize=510px:*510w)
76ers eliminate Raptors in 6 games as Embiid, Harden lead the way
4 days agoDuration 0:48Philadelphia beats Toronto 132-97 and takes the first round series 4-2. Joel Embiid scores game-high 33 points while James Harden adds 22 points and a game-high 15 assists.More NBA coverage(editor：)
- Heard's sister, friend back her assault claims against Depp
- McMorris apologizes to Canadian teammate Parrot for questioning his slopestyle victory
- A couple woke up to find a dog snuggled in bed with them. It was not theirs
- 'Jeopardy!' Fans Are Outraged Over the Change Mayim Bialik Made on the Show
- Sofia Vergara Posted a Sizzling Swimsuit Photo to Officially Kick Off the Summer
- Olympic hockey teams don't see Canada's Brianne Jenner until it's too late
- Flames outlast Oilers in explosive series opener as rivals combine for 15 goals
- Canada cruises past China in Olympic men's hockey, will meet again in knockout round
- First day of $30M fraud trial against reality stars Todd, Julie Chrisley wraps up
- Jones suffers 2nd Olympic loss as Canada comes up short against Sweden in women's curling
- CFL, CFL Players' Association reach tentative collective agreement
- Playing in tune: we might share more musical stylings with animals than we think
- As Elon Musk orders Tesla staff back to the office, many tech companies are doing the opposite
- Matthews scores hat trick, ties Vaive's single
- Key matches, main stars and more: a complete look at the World Cup group stage
- Unruly Plane Passenger Bashed With Coffee Pot After Trying To Open Main Door: Witness
- Canada's Brad Gushue strengthens playoff push with win over Italy in Beijing
- Jones suffers 2nd Olympic loss as Canada comes up short against Sweden in women's curling
- Why this British man travelled 2,000 km by train in 1 day
- Senators overwhelmed by emails, calls pushing conspiracy theories about basic income legislation