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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

Toronto Raptors’ Nick Nurse voted NBA’s top coach for 2019-20

AP photo by Kevin C. Cox / Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse looks on during the third quarter of Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
AP photo by Kevin C. Cox / Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse looks on during the third quarter of Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. AP photo by Kevin C. Cox / Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse looks on during the third quarter of Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Nick Nurse was close to quitting.

He was 26 or 27 years old, coaching in the British Basketball League and wondering whether he had a future in the profession. He went to his hotel room one night and wrote down a list of four other careers he could pursue if he went back home.

None looked appealing.

“So I figured I’d better get working on coaching and figure it out,” Nurse said.

He’s sure done that.