Brandnew Philadelphia 76ers trainer Nick Nanny was once requested in regards to the condition of pending separate agent James Harden and the way he’d promote the megastar secure on enjoying for him then season.
“Winning has to be the sell, right?” Nanny mentioned Thursday all through his introductory information convention on the crew’s follow
Philadelphia 76ers’ newly appointed head coach, Nick Nurse, addressed the pressing matter of pending free agent James Harden and how he plans to persuade the star guard to join his team for the upcoming season.
During his introductory news conference at the team’s practice facility on Thursday, Nurse emphasized the importance of winning as the ultimate selling point. “Winning has to be the sell, right?” Nurse pondered. “Can we be good enough to win it all? That’s got to be a goal of his. And if it is, then he should stay here and play for us because I genuinely believe we have the potential to achieve that.”
Nurse, who joined the Sixers shortly after a successful five-year tenure with the Toronto Raptors, wasted no time in reaching out to Harden. He revealed that he has already engaged in conversations with the star player and intends to meet with him, along with every other member of the roster, including Joel Embiid, whom he personally sat down with during the interview process.
While an NBA championship is the team’s inherent expectation, Nurse inherits a group that has repeatedly fallen short in the Eastern Conference semifinals over the past six seasons. Philadelphia’s last appearance in the NBA Finals dates back to Allen Iverson’s era, while their last championship triumph was achieved under the leadership of Julius Erving, both of which were decades ago. However, Nurse dismissed the significance of past accomplishments and instead shifted the focus towards the future.
As Nurse embarks on his journey with the Sixers, his sights are set on the road ahead, determined to lead the team towards a brighter and more triumphant future.
In a recent statement, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse shared his perspective on the past and emphasized his focus on the future. Nurse expressed his indifference to dwelling on previous seasons, highlighting his determination to concentrate solely on the team’s upcoming endeavors. He addressed the team’s playoff performance, acknowledging the importance of their postseason success and the judgment they will face based on those results. Nurse drew comparisons to his experience with the Toronto Raptors, acknowledging that they faced similar scrutiny due to underwhelming playoff performances by certain players.
Nurse’s ability to elevate the game of NBA MVP Joel Embiid in the playoffs will be crucial in surpassing past limitations. The coach approaches this task from a place of familiarity, having faced Embiid numerous times over the past five years. The Raptors and 76ers have clashed in both regular-season matchups and playoff series, including the memorable seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal in 2019, which saw Toronto advance thanks to Kawhi Leonard’s dramatic buzzer-beater in Game 7. Nurse and Embiid have engaged in spirited exchanges on the sidelines, with Embiid even making public comments comparing Nurse to other coaches. Despite these interactions, Nurse’s battles against Embiid have led him to develop a newfound respect for the talented center.
Reflecting on his tenure in Toronto, Nurse expressed gratitude for his 10 years with the organization, including five as an assistant coach before taking over as head coach in the 2018-19 season. He led the Raptors to a championship in his inaugural season, won Coach of the Year in 2020, and guided the team to the playoffs in three of his five years at the helm. Nurse also acknowledged his candidacy for coaching vacancies in Milwaukee and Phoenix, but ultimately chose the 76ers due to their combination of talent and stable ownership.
President of basketball operations Daryl Morey commended Nurse’s championship pedigree and creativity, stating that he ticked all the boxes and was the ideal choice to replace Doc Rivers as head coach of the 76ers. With Nurse at the helm, Philadelphia hopes to embark on a successful journey, driven by a focus on the future and the pursuit of excellence.