8. Nick Nurse, Philadelphia 76ers
Some believe that Nick Nurse is a one-hit wonder thanks to Kawhi Leonard. Leonard did have an incredible run with the Toronto Raptors helping them to the NBA title in 2019. The Raptors were also a playoff team for five straight years before that. Dwane Casey was the 2017-18 NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Raptors to a franchise record 59 wins – and got fired. The assistant on Casey’s staff in charge of the offense leading to those 59 wins: Nick Nurse.
Nurse led Toronto to the championship in his first season. Leonard left and Nurse then led the Raptors to an even better regular season record. His efforts won him NBA Coach of the Year in 2020. Nurse is a creative offensive coach who can also develop talent. Ask Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and Pascal Siakam.
Siakam won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2019 and became an All-Star under Nick Nurse. One hit wonder, huh? He’ll get a chance to continue to prove that wrong with his next stop, which is in Philadelphia.