Raptors Meet With Steve Nash in Coaching Search

The Raptors have met with former Nets coach Steve Nash as they attempt to fill their coaching vacancy, per Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Nash was fired by Brooklyn at the beginning of the season, back when the team still had star forward Kevin Durant and point guard Kyrie Irving.

Nash, 48, a former back-to-back NBA MVP as a point guard with the Suns, compiled a 94-67 record with the Nets. He was dismissed after a 2-5 start this past season.

“Nobody was talking about how bad of a coach Steve Nash was three or four years ago,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley said at the time. “All of the sudden these guys start acting like fools and jackasses and now Steve Nash can’t coach.”

Meanwhile, Durant said he was “shocked” when Nash was fired.

“You’re always shocked when a move like this happens,” Durant said, via Nick Friedell of ESPN. “But it’s normal in the NBA. It’s about getting ready for the game tonight. It’s a quick turn always in the league, especially during the season. You’ve got practice, games coming up, so you can’t think too much about it. 

Brooklyn was Nash’s first head-coaching job. A native of Vancouver, he is considered a Canadian basketball legend.

The Raptors are looking to replace Nick Nurse, fired after five seasons. As we relayed here, Nurse is considered a finalist with the Bucks, as well as the 76ers and Suns, as relayed here.

The Toronto Raptors met with Steve Nash to discuss their head coaching job, sources tell me and @joevardon. Nash, a Canadian basketball legend, had a .584 record (94-67) in two-plus seasons coaching the Nets. Toronto has had a wide-ranging coaching search.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 22, 2023