The attention. The lights. The adversity. It all happens throughout a lottery pick’s early years. For Barnes, his play with the Toronto Raptors last season earned him the Rookie of the Year award and strong consideration as one of the best two-way wing players in the League.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Toronto Raptors (@raptors)

This season, Barnes has become a top target of defensive game plans looking to shut down the reigning Rookie of the Year. Despite his ongoing adjustment to how opponents defend him, his teammates and coaches still believe heavily in Barnes’ long-term potential as a featured weapon of Toronto’s offense.

“I said that his biggest challenge going in the year was to have the enthusiasm that he had last year,” head coach Nick Nurse said, per SportsNet. “Every game, he was a kid in a candy store, and that’s part of now you’ve got some attention, you get some focal [point], you get some tough defenders, you get knocked around a little bit. But keep working at it.”

With a 5-4 record in the month of November, the Raptors have seen the highs and lows of Barnes’ second year. From five-point performances to 19-point games, Barnes is currently on a roller coaster run, averaging 12.6 points and 5.3 assists on 21.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SLAM (@slam)

Those numbers certainly don’t matter to a veteran who contributed to the franchise’s first championship in 2019. Fred VanVleet is confident in Barnes’ ability to standout amongst the rest of the young talent around the League, and most importantly, it’s just November.

“Nobody around here is worried about him,” VanVleet said. “We know how great of a player he’s going to be. There’s not any young player I would trade him for. The sky’s the limit for him — I didn’t really even realize [Barnes’ slump] was a narrative until I was sitting at home watching the Detroit game. But yeah, it’s a little overblown.”

The professionalism of the Raptors has been the driving force toward the culture they’re trying to build. They display it again by keeping Barnes accountable and giving their utmost support to their future superstar. If the upcoming games turn out to be strong performances from Barnes, it’ll prove his will to develop and the quality skills he posses as a leader.

“Of course, I’m going to really embrace it, be who I am on the floor,” said Barnes. “…the ball is in my hands a little more when [Fred and Pascal] are out, but I’m just trying to take the game how it is—I feel like that’s a big thing, everybody giving me that confidence from the coaches to the players, having that support staff around me. I feel like that’s helpful.”

The post Raptors Believe Scottie Barnes is Still A Difference Maker appeared first on SLAM.

The Wichita State product is tied for being the longest-tenured Raptor with his All-star teammate, Pascal Siakam. Despite the Raptors roster being home to a deep pool of 6’8 plus multitalented and highly switchable wings, VanVleet is barely 6’0, but he fits right in with them.

In fact, VanVleet leads the brigade of titans on both offense and defense. He’s determined to get the best out of himself and his teammates. 

“Those are my two secrets. I try to lead by example. And when that doesn’t work, I cuss,” Fred VanVleet said on Monday. 

VanVleet has set a tremendous veteran example for his teammates. Last season, VanVleet averaged 20.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds en route to his first All-Star game selection. He made the second most three-pointers per game after Stephen Curry. 

“He sets (the tone) just because that’s his nature. He competes to win. That’s just who he is. He doesn’t know much better. You guys come to practice tomorrow, and we’ll be playing games that are being scored, and he’ll be out there fighting,” Coach Nick Nurse said about VanVleet’s competitive fire. 

“It’s just kind of my job to make sure we get through a good practice,” VanVleet said. “And when we don’t, I blame myself. I’ve got a pretty good track record.” 

The Raptors made the playoffs last season, and if they look to do better than their first-round appearance, VanVleet will have a lot to do with it. VanVleet may be their smallest player, but he’s their most prominent voice and so much more.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Nick Nurse on ‘the Tone’ Fred VanVleet Sets as the Leader of the Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

However, the 25-year-old Raptor hopeful is seemingly taking responsibility for his basketball fortunes. At the moment, Jackson is attempting to win the final spot on the Rosters roster after signing a non-guaranteed one-year deal in August.

“Every place is different,” Jackson said, per the Toronto Star.” I can’t say that every organization that I’ve been a part of has been great in helping its players succeed, but with that, what I have learned is you’ve got to be the one to make sure that you’re getting everything that you need.

“You have to make sure you’re working on the things you need to work on because, at the end of the day, it is your career; it’s not theirs.”

Jackson is fighting for a roster spot after lasting two seasons with the Suns, who traded him to Memphis in a four-player-deal after the 2018-19 season with which he played 22 games. As a free agent, Jackson ended up signing with his hometown Detroit Pistons, with whom he spent a season-and-a-half before ending the 2021-22 season with the Sacramento Kings.

“I’m a strong believer in just taking something away from everything that happens — good or bad,” he said. “That’s all I’ve been trying to do my entire time in the League and also from mistakes that I’ve made in the past. I’m trying to help young players to not make those same mistakes. Any time I can give a little bit of knowledge that I have to another player who’s come up after me, I take the chance.”

Jackson is battling Justin Champagnie, D.J. Wilson, and Gabe Brown for Toronto’s final roster spot, but it seems like none of the four have firmly made their case . Jackson’s case is aided by his relationship with Raptors assistant coaches Earl Watson and Nate Bjorkgren in Phoenix. The two coaches were consulted before Toronto signed Jackson.

Jackson contributed 13 points and was a plus-24 when Toronto beat the Celtics in overtime last week, 125-119. Jackson, Brown, and Wilson were effective during Toronto’s fourth-quarter rally that produced that Toronto preseason win. Champagnie missed three of Toronto’s preseason games with a hip injury and played just eight minutes in Sunday’s loss to Chicago.

“I think he knows he needs to continue to work at his game,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “Those guys, at that part of their careers, certainly don’t want you to think,” Well, we’re not sure if you’re gonna work hard. He’s done a good job with all that stuff. He’s been around. He’s a pro. It took him a little while to make an impact. We’ve figured out how to put him in some situations, and he’s taken advantage of that, especially in that (Boston) game.”

Jackson and his contemporaries have their final chance to make their case on Friday when Toronto closes the preseason against Boston Celtics.

Jackson told the Toronto Star that he appreciates being able to compete for a roster, and he’s comfortable with whatever the outcome is.

“Everybody’s been super respectful here, super nice. Definitely glad that I got to where I am now. I still have the opportunity to do what I love to do, and I’m going to come out and make the best of it every day. I’m gonna come out and work hard, give it everything I’ve got, and if that’s not enough, that’s not enough.”

The Raptors open the season with a home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The post Josh Jackson On His Journeyman Career: ‘It’s Your Career, Not Theirs’ appeared first on SLAM.

Over the years, Siakam has been questioned if he can be a true first option. He’s improved in every aspect of his game, winning the 2019 Most Improved Player Award.

Siakam has been putting in work at the gym this offseason, and Coach Nick Nurse has taken notice of Siakam’s summer work.

“(Siakam) looks absolutely spectacular,” Nurse said at his charity golf event. “You sit there, and you watch him work out; his athleticism is electric, his focus, his shot is smooth and soft. He looks great.” added Nurse.

Siakam will look to take the step to superstar status next season to prove he can lead a team to the NBA Finals. With the positive reinforcement from Nurse and the supporting cast to go with it, Siakam and Toronto could have all the tools to succeed.

The post Nick Nurse Impressed with Pascal Siakam’s Summer Workouts appeared first on SLAM.

“Wait till this year because every time I see him this summer on the court, it’s total focus, total intensity,” Nurse said. “I mean, something happened to him where he now understands what playing in the NBA is about, and he is on a mission.”

Nurse went on to say that Achiuwa “is really gonna take a step up” next season.

Over the summer, Achiuwa’s been seen training with his teammates in Las Vegas and hosting his own basketball camp in Nigeria (where he’s been throwing down some ridiculous slams). Nurse clearly loves what he’s seeing.

Achiuwa’s game took an impressive jump from year one to year two, as the Nigeria native averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game last season, considerable improvements from his 5-point, 3.4-rebound, and .5-assist averages the year prior. He also showed off his shooting stroke (35.9 percent from deep last season) after never attempting a three-pointer during his rookie year.

Achiuwa hit three or more three-pointers eight times last season and is now an inside-out scoring threat for Toronto. The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American has found his footing in The 6 after being traded from Miami in a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry last summer.

With Nurse’s recent comments and his ability to develop talent, don’t be surprised if Achiuwa’s numbers increase yet again this upcoming season.

The post Nick Nurse Expects Breakout Season From Precious Achiuwa: ‘He Is On A Mission’ appeared first on SLAM.

Nick Nurse and Joel Embiid were talking trash to each other last night . Playoff basketball gotta love it pic.twitter.com/3uIyoG0ikc

— hoopsallin (@hoopsallin_) April 19, 2022

The conversation seemed to happen based on the disparity of free throws between the adversaries. The Sixers shot 30 free throws while the Raptors shot 12. Embiid (31 points and 11 rebounds) himself knocked down 12-14 of his freebies, James Harden (14 points, six rebounds, and six assists) went 7-8, while the Raptors were led by Pascal Siakam (20 points and 10 rebounds) seven free throw attempts.

When asked about the exchange with Nurse, Embiid showed his gamesmanship but kept it somewhat respectful.

“He’s a great coach,” Embiid said of Nurse. “Obviously, what he’s been able to accomplish, and [I’ve] always been a big fan. But, I told him, respectfully, I told him to stop bitching about calls because I saw what he said last game.” 

Embiid firing back at Nurse stems from what the head coach of Toronto said after the Sixers’ Game 1 win. Nurse felt that Embiid was benefiting from some calls and non-calls.

“I don’t care if you’re 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds; if you beat him to the spot and he runs you over, it’s a foul,” Nurse said of Embiid on Saturday night. “I thought he threw three or four elbows to the face. He got called for one. We’re going to stand in there. — If we’re legal defensively, then we gotta have them call it, or we don’t have a chance. Period. Nobody can guard that guy if they’re just gonna let him run you over time and time again. We’re gonna stand in there, and we’ll see.” 

Over the two games the 76ers and Raptors played, Embiid has shot 25 free throws. The Raptors don’t have another big man with similar size and strength to compete down low with Embiid. As the leader of the Raptors, Nurse, and any other coach in the playoffs, will always attempt to lobby with the refs to watch for specific calls or for the zebras to be wary of certain moves and situations.

“If you’re going to triple-team somebody all game, they are bound to get to the free-throw line, or if you’re going to push them off and try to hold them and all that stuff, they’re bound to get to the free-throw line,” Embiid said after Game 2. “So I feel like every foul was legit and probably [there] should have been more, honestly.” 

The series shifts back to Toronto for Game 3 and 4 on Wednesday.

The post Joel Embiid Sounds Off On Late-Game Exchange With Nick Nurse appeared first on SLAM.

Joel Embiid on Toronto: “The way they defend me has never changed. They just play recklessly, sending 3 guys at me as soon as the ball is in the air. They made me better honestly, over the years, just playing against them and watching them. Definitely made me a better playmaker.”

— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) April 14, 2022

Embiid, who just became the first center to win a scoring title since Shaquille O’Neal, has averaged 29.3 points against Toronto. However, the Raptors have proven to be a challenge for The Process. Of the 13 times, Embiid has 10 or fewer points in a game; five came against Toronto. The Raptors even held him to a zero-point outing in 2019.

“The way they defend me has never changed,” Embiid told the media, per Yahoo Sports. “They just play recklessly, sending three guys at me as soon as the ball is in the air.

“They made me better, honestly, over the years, just playing against them and watching them. Definitely made me a better playmaker.”

When the two met in the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals, Coach Nick Nurse designed a defense that held Embiid to 17.3 points per game on 37 percent shooting from the field.

Joel Embiid the first 76ers player with 30+ points in 6 straight road games since Allen Iverson in 2006.
Tobias Harris notched his 1st career triple-double.
Georges Niang 19 points off the bench.

Game Highlights vs. Toronto Raptors | 12.28.21 pic.twitter.com/tiD2wfni0F

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 29, 2021

Embiid and the 76ers hope that the solution to the defensive gameplan Nurse designs will be the Kansas products’ improved playmaking and the improved play of James Harden, who they acquired at the deadline to take them over the top as a Finals threat. The 76ers went 14-7 with Harden in the lineup this season.

The post Joel Embiid on Raptors Defense: ‘They Made Me Better’ appeared first on SLAM.

Beal praised Raptors’ head coach Nick Nurse for his defensive schemes following the loss on Wednesday night. Beal finished the game with 25 points and seven assists but did so on 8-for-18 shooting.

“Coach Nurse is always an interesting coach. He always has some junkyard defense to throw my way and make things difficult,” Beal told reporters, including NBC Sports’ Chase Hughes.

The Raptors, thanks in part to former NBA Coach of the Year Nurse, are off to a hot start this season, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 6-3. The Wizards have also been good to start the year with a 5-3 record.

The post Bradley Beal Praises Nick Nurse Following Loss to the Raptors appeared first on SLAM.

On Tuesday, the Candian National Basketball Team announced that its head coach, Nurse, had signed a contract extension to remain with the team through 2024.

The new extension means Nurse will be the head coach of the Canadian National Team for the 2024 Olympics taking place in Paris, France.

Nurse joined Canada in 2019 and acted as head coach during Canada’s Olympic qualifying campaign after the NBA season. Canada came up short of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, taking place in 2021, after suffering an overtime loss to the Czech Republic during qualifying.

Nurse has only been a head coach in the NBA for three seasons and has already obtained a high level of success. In three seasons, Nurse has accumulated a record of 138-88, three Coach of the Month awards, the 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year and the 2019 NBA Championship.

Before becoming the head coach of the Raptors, Nurse served as an assistant from 2013-18 and spent 11 seasons coaching in the British Basketball League.

The post Nick Nurse to Coach Canadian National Team Through 2024 appeared first on SLAM.

Years ago when he was coaching at Grand View University, Nurse frequently studied Jackson’s coaching style and even ran the triangle offense. Fast-forward to 2018 and Nurse would get to take his appreciation and admiration for Jackson to the next level.

Alex McKechnie, who was Nurse’s vice president of player health and performance, worked with Jackson in Los Angeles and set up a meeting with the two of them. This came about on the very first day that Nurse was officially promoted to head coach of the Raptors.

Nurse really had no idea what to expect or how long their meeting would be, he just knew he would fly out to Montana and get the opportunity to chat with Jackson.

“I didn’t really know if we were going for a cup of coffee or if I was staying or what we were really doing”

They would ultimately have three-day coaching retreat. Nurse and Jackson would spend time doing a variety of things including talking through coaching philosophy. Nurse goes further into this once in a lifetime trip in his brand new book, Rapture.

As we all know, Nick Nurse would go on to take the Raptors to their first ever NBA championship in his first season as a head coach less than a year after this retreat. It goes to show that the trip to see Phil Jackson got him off on the right foot and set him up for success.

The post Nick Nurse Went On Retreat with Phil Jackson After Getting Head Coach Job appeared first on SLAM.

The six-time All-Star has stepped up to the plate throughout the competitive series. In game 6 on Wednesday, he dropped a game-high 33 points. He also ended the night with 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block to lead Toronto to a 125-122 double overtime victory.

Lowry’s effort and fearlessness on the court has helped tie the series 3-3. His all-around play has too often been overlooked, as Celtics head coach Brad Stevens stressed afterwards.

“He’s an All-Star, but he might be the most underrated player in the league,” Stevens said, via USA Today. “I just feel like he’s a terrific defender, he’s a terrific leader, a terrific effort player. Offensively, he puts you in a bind by getting fouled, making tough shots, and obviously, he does every little thing that helps teams win. Somehow he’s been underappreciated. The more people watch him in these settings, the more people appreciate him. He’s an amazing player, and certainly a big engine to them.”

“He’s a great one. He’s fun to watch. He’s the ultimate competitor,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse added, per USA Today. “He stepped step into it. He’s not afraid of the moment. Made some big ones for sure. Played great.”

Game 7 is set for Friday at 9:00 pm ET. The winner will meet Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.

—

Charlie Desadier is an intern at SLAM. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Photo via Getty.

The post Brad Stevens: Kyle Lowry ‘Might Be the Most Underrated Player’ in NBA appeared first on SLAM.

The award, Nurse’s first, was presented on TNT. Nurse was also a significant part of Dwane Casey’s staff when he won Coach of the Year with the Raptors back during the 2017-18 season.

Nurse finished with an impressive 90 first place votes, trailed by the two other nominees in the category, Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Nate McMillan of the Indiana Pacers was the only other coach to receive a first-place vote.

While Nurse received no shortage of praise for his role in Toronto’s 2019 NBA Championship, the team was largely written off in 2019-20 after losing a player of Leonard’s magnitude.

Not only did the Raptors hold steady without their MVP, they thrived, winning 53 of their 72 games for a winning percentage of .735. They were on par to beat the organization’s 59-win record set back in 2017-18 but played 10 fewer games due to the coronavirus shutdown.

Nurse is the third Raptors coach in history to win the award, Sam Mitchell won it in 2006-07. He’s also the first coach to pair an NBA Coach of the Year Award with a G League Coach of the Year award, per Blake Murphy of The Athletic.

The post Nick Nurse Named 2019-20 NBA Coach of the Year appeared first on SLAM.

Golden State was “unstoppable” with Durant—who suffered a ruptured Achilles against the Raptors in Game 5 of the championship round—says Green, adding that he’s confident they will get back to the mountaintop.

Draymond believes KD could’ve pushed for him to get traded if he wanted to remain with the Dubs, and that things truly soured for the two-time NBA Finals MVP when he wasn’t universally recognized as the world’s best player after outdueling LeBron James for the 2017 title.

Per Bleacher Report and NBC Sports Bay Area:

“Once we got Kevin, we were f**king unstoppable,” Green said on the “All the Smoke” podcast. “Even losing last year, Kevin don’t get hurt—you seen the game he came back in Game 5, I looked up, it was like six minutes to go, we had like 40 points in the first quarter—and so they wouldn’t have stood a chance if Kevin didn’t get hurt.”

He then discussed the narrative that KD left the Warriors in free agency because of him:

“This is f**king Kevin Durant we’re talking about. Yeah, I’ve done great things here. But let me tell you this — if Kevin really wanted to be here, all he would have done is went to [GM] Bob [Myers] and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll stay. But Draymond gotta go.’ And guess what — Bob Myers would have called me and said, ‘Draymond, I love you — and I won’t trade you to a bad team — but where do you want to go?’

“So to try to point the finger and say, ‘Oh man, I left because of him.’ Get the f**k outta here. I still love K. His feelings about me may not be the same. But I’ll ride with him for the rest of my life. I got that type of love for that brother. But you ain’t leave because of me. You’re fking Kevin Durant. If you wanted to be here, I would have been out. I would have been long gone.

“And guess who would have understood that? (he points at himself). I understand the business of basketball … he ain’t f**king leave because of me. That’s just the real.”

Related Agent: Media Didn’t Drive Kevin Durant from Warriors

The post Draymond Green: Raptors ‘Wouldn’t Have Stood a Chance’ vs Healthy Kevin Durant appeared first on SLAM.

Nurse wondered if Leonard “was going to flip a switch” and received an emphatic answer during the NBA Playoffs, when the reigning Finals MVP led Toronto to their first-ever championship.

Kawhi is looking forward to a “fun” reunion Monday night with his now-former teammates as the LA Clippers play host to the Raps.

Per The Athletic:

Nick Nurse: “There were several times and team meetings that I thought (Leonard) kind of inserted himself into our team. I know you probably remember me talking a lot about his leadership, and that got to be a big story, people saying he’s not a leader and this and that. I wasn’t making that up. That was probably early on. I think we were probably 13-4 or something and we were having a little meeting about how the offence was running, and he kind of stepped up and said to the team, ‘This is how I see it.’ He couldn’t have said it better, for me. It was perfect.”

Fred VanVleet: “Obviously, he didn’t talk a lot. I think it took a long time for him to open up to us. I think for him to become open and trust us on the court — off the court, he was great — but on the court, I think we saw over the course of the year him open up and trust us, the entire team. I think him and Kyle had a good chemistry pretty early. And you could see it gradually happen for the entire team.”

Marc Gasol: “He speaks when needed. That, to me, is a great trait of a leader. When the team needs it, he has a voice, a voice that everyone listens to. He speaks the right stuff, cares about the right stuff. It was awesome. … I’ll keep it in the locker room. I have a lot of respect for the locker room stuff. But he’s always, always on point and never negative. Always balanced, always steady. You see him out there, and that’s the way he is. He’s not dramatic at all. He never has highs or lows. He’s always steady and on course.”

Nurse: “I’m not sure I ever said this publicly last year, but about February of last year, I was like: ‘He’s not playing to his full capabilities. He’s cruising to his 30 points a night.’ I figured it could go one of two ways. He was gonna cruise on out of here or he was going to flip a switch and try to win the whole damn thing. Obviously, we saw what happened.”

Related Nick Nurse: ‘Can’t Blame’ Kawhi Leonard for Joining the LA Clippers

The post Nick Nurse: Kawhi Leonard Was ‘Cruising to His 30 Points a Night’ appeared first on SLAM.

Ujiri believes Toronto “learned how to win” last season and adds that Leonard, who bolted for the LA Clippers this summer, “taught” the Raps how to reach the mountaintop.

Masai also holds no ill will towards Kawhi for wanting to live and work back home in Cali.

Per CBC News and Yahoo Sports Canada:

Raptors president Masai Ujiri’s optimistic answer to that is simple: “100 per cent,” he said in an interview with Adrienne Arsenault, co-host of CBC’s The National.

“I look at what this team has done and what we can learn from it. We learned how to win. And Kawhi taught us that. He brought us into that space,” Ujiri said.

While he is obviously disappointed in the end result, Ujiri doesn’t harbour any resentment toward Leonard. He completely understands that the superstar wanted to return to his roots.

“If he wants to go home, he’s gone home,” Ujiri said. “If there was a team in Lagos, Nigeria or Zaria, Nigeria, if there was an NBA team there I don’t know if I would stay in Toronto. There are some callings in life and some things that pull people one way or the other and I completely understand that.”

Related Masai Ujiri: Raptors ‘Going to Be Just Fine’ Without Kawhi Leonard

The post ‘100 Percent’: Masai Ujiri Says Raptors Can Repeat Without Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

With Kawhi Leonard no longer in the picture for the defending NBA champs, the pressure to deliver falls squarely on Siakam’s shoulders.

The 25-year-old forward is coming off a Most Improved Player campaign in 2018-19, and Nurse belives “the sky’s the limit” for him.

Per Yahoo Sports Canada:

“I just think his next step in progression is being ‘The Man,’” Nurse told Yahoo Sports Canada. “Instead of being a complementary guy next to ‘The Man,’ he’s gotta be ‘The Man’ — the primary scorer and the primary option and the late-game scorer.”

Having established himself as an interior scorer, Nurse says the next step in Siakam’s development will take place on the perimeter.

“He really can play anywhere,” Nurse said of Siakam. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we almost make him like a point forward, where he’ll handle the ball a lot up the floor.”

His ceiling won’t necessarily hit MVP levels, but Siakam does have a decent shot of challenging for an All-NBA team next year.

“There’s lots of little steps left to climb yet for him,” Nurse said of Siakam, “And I think the sky’s the limit.”

Related Report: Toronto, OKC Discussed a Trade for Russell Westbrook and Paul George

The post Nick Nurse: Pascal Siakam Has Got to Be ‘The Man’ for Toronto appeared first on SLAM.

Ujiri says “it’s on to the next” for the defending NBA champs.

Masai added that this was a “different kind of free agency,” which ultimately resulted in Kawhi joining the LA Clippers.

Per TSN:

“Honestly, it’s on to the next,” Ujiri said, speaking publicly for the first time since Leonard made his decision early Saturday morning. “This is the NBA and this is how it works. I always say there’s no time to go out and cry. You can’t hide under the table and cry. Honestly, I’ve lost no sleep. I’m not disappointed. It’s on to what’s next. I’m telling Raptors fans and everybody, don’t lose one day of sleep, one second of sleep. We’re going to be just fine. We’re going to be all right.”

Was anybody not [upfront with him and the Raptors throughout the process]?

“I know what we’re dealing with here and I appreciate what the process was,” Ujiri responded. “I know free agency, I know how it works. It’s not my first rodeo. You know things are going to go up and down. This was a different kind of free agency. It was high stakes and we understood that.”

The natural assumption is that Ujiri was making reference to Uncle Dennis. Robertson has a reputation for being hard to deal with and would have been hands on throughout the process. According to sources, Leonard and his camp – namely Uncle Dennis – asked for a lot from the Raptors in that meeting, things players don’t generally ask for in standard contract negotiations.

In some cases, they were asking for things that Ujiri – one of the most well compensated executives in the league – wouldn’t have even had at his disposal. Their requests were “unreasonable”, a source said, which made the Raptors wonder whether Leonard was seriously considering them at all.

Related Nick Nurse: ‘Can’t Blame’ Kawhi Leonard for Joining the LA Clippers

The post Masai Ujiri: Raptors ‘Going to Be Just Fine’ Without Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Nurse says you “can’t blame” the guy for wanting to go home, and joining the LA Clippers.

The defending NBA champs will shift their focus on re-tooling: “Now we got to go kick his ass.”

Per ESPN:

“I think you can’t blame a guy for wanting to go home,” Nurse said Saturday night at the Las Vegas Summer League. “That’s what he texted me today. ‘I’m going home.’ And I just said, ‘You’ve changed a lot of lives, man, by what you’ve accomplished in Toronto. Mine especially.’ And thanked him for what he did, and we’ll look to the future, and we’ll look to [win a title] again.”

Nurse acknowledged that Leonard’s departure left some understandable sadness within the organization.

“It’s certainly disappointing,” Nurse said. “I think, first of all, he’s a great person. He was unbelievably fun to coach, just locked in and loaded and ready to go. People would ask me, ‘What was it like coaching him?’ And I always said the best thing was I got to stand there on the courtside and watch this guy go to work. That was something that I’ll never forget. Now we got to go kick his ass.”

Nurse also brushed off the suggestion that tampering by the Clippers might have played a part in Leonard’s decision. He said the Raptors are not pursuing a tampering claim with the league office.

“From my standpoint, I didn’t sense it or don’t have any of those feelings at all,” Nurse said. “I again state that he’s going home, and that’s a heart draw for any of us. If you guys were all playing somewhere else and got a chance to go back and make the most money you make in your hometown … are you going to go home and do it? Again, we’ll wish him well and the best of luck until we have to go against him.”

Related Report: Kawhi Leonard Recruited Paul George Once Kevin Durant Turned Him Down

The post Nick Nurse: ‘Can’t Blame’ Kawhi Leonard for Joining the LA Clippers appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard, 27, says he is “going to take the right time” before making a decision about where to play next season.

Kawhi enjoyed a “great experience” after being traded from San Antonio last summer, and Raptors teammate Serge Ibaka “can see the man is happy.”

Per The AP:

“I’m enjoying this” he said. “It’s not time to stress, it’s still time to have some fun. I’ve just been enjoying my experience.”

After precisely two months of playoff basketball, Leonard doesn’t have a lot of time left to be a fun guy — free agency gets underway at 6 p.m. on June 30.

“I’m going to take the right time,” he said. “You don’t need too many days to figure it out. We’ll see what happens. Once that time comes, then we’ll all lay the pros and cons out.”

A three-time All-Star and two-time NBA defensive player of the year, Leonard is expected to decline the player option on the final year of his contract and become a free agent. Toronto can offer him a five-year deal worth around $190 million, one year and some $50 million more than any other team.

“I’ve been talking with him a lot during the season and in the playoffs, but after we won, I can see the man is happy,” Ibaka said. “That’s the most important. We play this sport because we want to enjoy and have fun and be happy and be somewhere people love you. I’m sure he feels that people here love him, and after this moment, that’s the most important.”

Related Fred VanVleet: ‘Nothing More That We Can Do’ to Recruit Kawhi Leonard

The post Kawhi Leonard ‘Going to Take the Right Time’ in Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard, 27, ignored the noise and led Toronto to its first ever title and took home his second NBA Finals MVP.

Kawhi says he is a “Raptor for right now” and wouldn’t give a hint about what he plans to do as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Per ESPN:

“I told him, day one, this is his team. He the man,” [Kyle] Lowry said. “And I’m gonna make sure he’s the man. And when he did special things, I told him he was the man.”

Said Leonard: “That’s just the type of guy he is, you know? He wants to win. Very competitive player. Like I said before, Kyle’s been a big help with me in my transition, just knowing things throughout the city and obviously basketball.”

Leonard called winning another NBA title “surreal” while referencing behind-the-scenes drama that could have derailed the Raptors’ season. “Our season was so up and down — behind the scenes,” Leonard said. “And you know, that’s how you know this is a great group of teammates. Nothing got out. You guys didn’t know what was going on.”

Leonard and Lowry said they will now stay “in the moment” to celebrate the title, but the next question will be Leonard’s pending free agency, should he decline to exercise a $21.3 million player option for next season.

“I’m not thinking about it right now,” Leonard said. “No, I’m a Raptor for right now. And you know, we’ll see what happens.”

Related Kawhi Leonard: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Here’ Without Load Management

The post Kawhi Leonard: ‘A Lot of People Doubted Me’ appeared first on SLAM.

Lowry says his critics can say whatever they want, but it won’t matter: “I’m a champion.”

The veteran point guard, sitting beside Finals MVP teammate Kawhi Leonard, reflected on a wild season in Toronto that ended with the ultimate triumph.

Per ESPN:

“No,” Lowry told ESPN with a laugh, after finishing with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists and 3 steals. “I hope — I don’t care what they say.

“I appreciate the moment that I’m in. I’m happy I’m able to celebrate this moment with my teammates and with my family. The critics will have something else to say, which is fine. But I’m a champion.”

The thing that makes this Raptors championship so singular is how quickly this all came together. [Nick] Nurse is a first-year coach. Leonard, Danny Green and Marc Gasol — three of Toronto’s five starters Thursday night — arrived this season. Yet the Raptors managed to figure this out on the fly and win a title in the process.

“Professionals,” Lowry told ESPN. “You’ve watched us, you’ve been around us, you see what we’ve got — true professionals. Never settling. Whatever I need to do, I’m doing it for my team.”

As Lowry collected his family and went to pose with the championship trophy, he was asked how it felt.

“It feels great,” he said. “We’re f—ing champions.”

Related Kyle Lowry: DeMar DeRozan ‘Wants Us to Win a Ring’

The post ‘I’m a Champion’: Kyle Lowry Silences His Critics appeared first on SLAM.

Silver says Drizzy, the Toronto Raptors’ global ambassador, now understands there are lines he “shouldn’t cross.”

The League also stepped in last year when the superstar musician got into it with Kendrick Perkins during the playoffs.

Per Yahoo Sports (via NBA.com):

“We appreciate how big a fan he is, and I know the Raptors do,” Silver said in an interview with Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. “He has the official designation ‘ambassador’ … and he’s a global star, so it’s a huge deal that he’s so engaged with the team and loves the NBA so much.

“Obviously, there’s some lines that even ambassadors shouldn’t cross.”

Silver states that line includes mid-game shoulder massages to coaches, a move Drake did to Raptors coach Nick Nurse on the sidelines during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

“I think Drake understands as excited as he is and as appreciative we are of his support that there’s got to be lines drawn. Obviously, you don’t want to end up touching a coach because a coach may not realize what’s going on in the middle of the action.

“I think he has a better understanding now of where that line is,” Silver said.

Related Bucks Coach: ‘There’s Certainly No Place’ for Drake on the Court

The post The NBA Spoke to Drake About His Courtside Antics appeared first on SLAM.

The Greek Freak is confident the Bucks can “fix” their problems in Game 5 Thursday night.

With the series tied at 2-2, the Bucks are desperate for Eric Bledsoe to break out an ugly shooting slump.

Per ESPN:

The shooting issues that have plagued Bledsoe all postseason continued in Game 4. Through the first two rounds of the playoffs this year, Bledsoe averaged 16 points. Against the Raptors in the conference finals, though, he is averaging 8.3 points.

“For Bled, it’s just making sure he understands we wouldn’t be here without him,” Pat Connaughton told ESPN. “Everybody gets frustrated with themselves when they are not playing well because they feel like they are letting the team down. He wants to play well for his teammates.”

The Bucks’ locker room after the game was eerily silent. Players didn’t speak to one another — not even in a whisper. The loudest sound was the whirring ceiling fan and Antetokounmpo’s cellphone alarm notifying him it was time to take off his ice bags.

“The series is two to two,” [Khris] Middleton said. “It’s not the end of the world. I know Game 5 is going to be a dog fight.”

Related Giannis Antetokounmpo Says He ‘Never Expected This Series to Be Easy’

The post Giannis Antetokounmpo: Game 4 Loss ‘Not the End of the World’ appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard finished with 41 points in Game 7, shooting 16-of-39 in the thrilling 92-90 win over Philadelphia.

Kawhi’s amazing shot devastated Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and the Sixers, who go into the summer with plenty of question marks.

Per The AP:

“It was great,” Leonard said. “That’s something I never experienced before, Game 7, a game-winning shot. It was a blessing to be able to get to that point and make that shot and feel that moment.”

After Philadelphia’s Jimmy Butler tied it with a driving layup with 4.2 seconds left, Toronto used its final timeout to draw up a play for Leonard, who dribbled toward the right corner and launched the high-arching shot.

“It’s tough,” Butler said. “Nobody likes to lose, not that way.”

The Raptors ran a similar play for Leonard during the first round against Orlando. That time, he caught the ball and shot without dribbling.

“Remembering that moment, I knew I had some time to try to get some space, rather than just catch and shoot the ball,” Leonard said. “I ended up finding a spot that I like, that I work on. I just knew I had to shoot it high.”

Related ‘That Man is Kobe’: Kawhi Leonard is Dominating the Sixers

The post Kawhi Leonard: ‘That’s Something I Never Experienced Before’ appeared first on SLAM.

Butler says he’s doing everything possible to keep Philly’s season alive.

Kawhi Leonard finished with 29 points for Toronto, but was kept relatively in check.

Joel Embiid had 17 points and 12 rebounds, with Ben Simmons adding 21 points to force a Game 7.

Per The AP:

“I play to win,” Butler said. “Right now, this is what I have to do in order to give us a great chance at winning.”

Game 7 is Sunday night in Toronto. The Milwaukee Bucks await the winner.

“It was amazing focus. Everybody was locked in,” Simmons said. “We knew what was at stake.”

Joel Embiid had played through a bad left knee and a stomach bug for most of the playoffs and the entire team had reason to be ill after the Raptors crushed the Sixers by 36 in Game 5.

“I knew I had to come in with high spirits,” Embiid said. “If I’ve got to play 45 minutes and push myself out there, that’s what I’ll do.”

Related ‘I’ll Be Back’: Joel Embiid Tells Drake There Will Be a Game 7

The post ‘I Play to Win’: Jimmy Butler, Sixers Force Game 7 vs Toronto appeared first on SLAM.

“I’m not helping him enough,” Lowry said Thursday night after finishing with 7 points on 2-of-10 shooting in Toronto’s 116-95 in Game 3 loss.

Head coach Nick Nurse says Philadelphia simply “outplayed” his team as it took a 2-1 series lead.

Per ESPN:

“We’ve got to help him,” Lowry told ESPN. “I was literally saying it during the game. We have to help him. He’s doing everything he can possibly do offensively and defensively to f—ing win games, and myself, I’m not helping him enough.

“I’m not putting it on nobody else but me.”

Meanwhile, Philadelphia received dominant performances from Joel Embiid (33 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocks) and Jimmy Butler (22 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists) and had all five starters finish in double figures.

“I’ve got to play better,” Lowry told ESPN. “Literally that is the only thing that matters. I have to play better. Nothing else matters. Plus-minus, charges, everything. Nothing else matters. I have to score the ball and play better offensively.

“If I can get close to where I can be, it would be a different series. We might be a little better off than 2-1, but it’s been like this all year for me. It’s been an up-and-down year for me, and I can’t dwell on anything but continue to try to get better at some point. Hopefully it’ll be Sunday.”

Related Kawhi Leonard: Kyle Lowry ‘Did a Great Job of Bouncing Back’ in Game 2

The post Kyle Lowry: Raptors ‘Got to Help’ Kawhi Leonard appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard, 27, is enjoying his best statistical season (27.3 points, 7.8 rebounds) with the Raptors (31-12), but his future remains very much in question.

From the Mag: Courting Kawhi: Can the Raptors sell their star on a future in Toronto? https://t.co/R72zY1BeB0

— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) January 8, 2019

Toronto can offer Kawhi a five-year, max-level contract extension worth around $190 million on July 1.

Per Sports Illustrated:

(Last season, he approached the Thunder about a Paul George-for-DeMar DeRozan swap.) Since [Masai] Ujiri took over basketball operations in 2013, the Raptors have been consistently good, never sinking below 48 victories. But they never felt great. “I have a mandate . . . to win a championship,” says Ujiri. “You can’t continue doing the same thing over and over again. We gave a chance to [that] team. We tried to build it as much as we can.”

Inside the locker room, Leonard’s free agency is rarely discussed, even if everyone is wary of the consequences. “We need him to stay,” says [Serge] Ibaka. “He keeps everybody safe—no one is safe if he leaves.” Ibaka has been one of Leonard’s strongest new connections. In Leonard, Ibaka sees shades of [Russell] Westbrook and Kevin Durant, his former teammates in Oklahoma City. “They have a similar mind-set, where if they want to do something, they know they can.” In San Antonio, Leonard was known as the Claw. In Toronto, Ibaka has tried to make Deadly Zombie (self-explanatory) and Cape Town (the city in South Africa) stick. “I don’t know why, but he keeps telling me he’s from Cape Town,” says Ibaka, who was born in Congo. “Of all the places. . . . Maybe he just wants to visit there someday.”

From his locker a few stalls over, Leonard looks up. “You hating on me, Serge?” Leonard asks, smiling.

Ibaka grins back. “No, man,” he says. “We need you to stay. Stay, Kawhi. Stayyyyyy.”

Related
Kyle Lowry: ‘I Will Be Happy for Kawhi Leonard When He Makes His Decision’

The post ‘We Need Him to Stay’: Raptors Bracing for Kawhi Leonard’s Free Agency appeared first on SLAM.

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has been fined $15,000 by the NBA for publicly criticizing officiating on his star Kawhi Leonard.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2018

After the Raptors beat the Nuggets on the road Sunday, Nurse expressed his frustration with the officials and the lack of whistles Leonard was receiving during games.

Nick Nurse, sending a message post-game, wasn't happy with how Kawhi Leonard is being officiated, tonight and throughout the season: "I do not understand why they are letting everybody play one of the best players in the league so physically. I do not understand it."

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 17, 2018

Nurse on Kawhi non-calls: "It's been going on all year. But tonight was a very severe case of a guy who was playing great, taking it to the rim and getting absolutely held, grabbed, poked, slapped, hit and everything, and they refused to call any of it. It's unbelievable to me."

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 17, 2018

Do you agree with Nurse’s statements?

RELATED 
Raptors Coach Nick Nurse: Kawhi Leonard Not Getting Enough Calls

The post Nick Nurse Fined $15K For Criticizing Referees appeared first on SLAM.

Nurse is furious at the lack of calls his superstar is dealing with.

Nurse on Kawhi non-calls: "It's been going on all year. But tonight was a very severe case of a guy who was playing great, taking it to the rim and getting absolutely held, grabbed, poked, slapped, hit and everything, and they refused to call any of it. It's unbelievable to me."

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 17, 2018

Nurse on Kawhi non-calls (cont.): "It's ridiculous. The guy is one of the best players in the league, and he doesn't complain, he doesn't do this, he doesn't do that, and they just turn their head and go the other way. It's been going on all year."

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 17, 2018

Leonard finished with 29 points (and attempted only four free throws) in Toronto’s 95-86 road loss Sunday night against the Denver Nuggets.

Per the AP:

Kawhi Leonard had 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors, who finished 2-2 on their trip. They still own the league’s best mark at 23-9.

“You can’t tell me one of the best players in the league takes a hundred hits in that game and shoots four free throws,” Nurse said. “It’s been going on all year. I do not understand why they are letting everybody play one of the best players in the league so physically. I do not understand.”

Leonard agreed, but shrugged it off.

“It’s been very physical. I just go with the next play,” Leonard said. “I pride myself on just keep moving and keep going.”

Related
Kawhi Leonard: ‘When You Stop Playing They Forget How You Lead’

The post Raptors Coach Nick Nurse: Kawhi Leonard Not Getting Enough Calls appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard says Pop must’ve forgotten all that he brings to the table since he missed much of last season due to injuries.

Kawhi on his leadership style: "I lead by example. Coming into practice everyday just going hard and coming into these games mentally focused… Just motivating people, you know what I mean? I just try to lift people's spirits on the floor." pic.twitter.com/Xx3XKE6nrP

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) November 26, 2018

Kawhi on Pop’s comments: “It’s just funny to me. I don’t know if he’s talking about last year or not. I guess when you stop playing they forget how you lead… It doesn’t matter. I’m here with the Raptors and I’m focused on the season and not what’s going on on the other side.”

Kawhi on his leadership style: “I lead by example. Coming into practice everyday just going hard and coming into these games mentally focused. You can’t see things once you’re playing on the floor – guys ask me questions about their matchup, or if I see something on the floor I’m telling guys ‘go here, go there’. Just motivating people, you know what I mean? I just try to lift people’s spirits on the floor. That’s about it. Just don’t try to get nobody too down and just lift them up.”

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says Leonard leads in his own, quiet fashion.

Per the Toronto Star:

Nurse begged to differ before Sunday’s date with the Heat, commenting on Leonard’s “surprising” leadership since he was acquired for DeMar DeRozan in July.

“He just did a few little things in training camp, as far as getting some guys to go to the gym with him early. He opened up one of his shooting times pre-game to let (in) another guy that didn’t feel he was getting enough time … Just some little, I think, neat things that say a lot about a guy,” Nurse said. “He does it quietly, but they’re leadership things to me.”

Danny Green, who arrived in the same trade, said last month that his longtime teammate has become more vocal north of the border.

“Different system, new identity,” Green said. “He’s older here. There’s a lot of young guys who look up to him, respect him.”

Related
Gregg Popovich: Kawhi Leonard ‘Was a Great Player, But He Wasn’t a Leader’

The post Kawhi Leonard: ‘When You Stop Playing They Forget How You Lead’ appeared first on SLAM.

Leonard believes Toronto isn’t close to reaching its ceiling yet.

Leonard returns to help Raptors improve to NBA-best 11-1. https://t.co/dVQfjFDCMS

— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) November 8, 2018

The Raps have won five in a row since their loss of teh season at Milwaukee on Oct. 29.

Per the AP:

Kawhi Leonard isn’t making a big deal out of Toronto’s NBA-best 11-1 start. He’s trying to stay focused on the nuances of coach Nick Nurse’s offense.

Leonard had 25 points and 11 rebounds in his return from an ankle injury, and Toronto beat the Sacramento Kings 114-105 on Wednesday night.

“This isn’t our ceiling,” Leonard said. “With me not even knowing some of the offense, we have Kyle [Lowry] in the game most of the time. Once I start learning the offense, I can give him a little break and let him get some easier shots. I don’t really know the offense in and out yet.”

Related
Kawhi Leonard: ‘We’re Not Finals Competitors Right Now’

The post ‘This Isn’t Our Ceiling’: Kawhi Leonard Says Raptors Will Only Improve appeared first on SLAM.

“We’re not Finals competitors right now,” says Leonard.

The Raptors have all the makings of a championship contender. But you’re going to have to convince them of it: https://t.co/GAhN98XewO

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) October 19, 2018

Kawhi had 24 points and 12 rebounds in his Raptors regular season debut Wednesday night, a 116-104 win against the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.

Per ESPN:

“We have a long road before we ever think about matching up with the champions like Golden State,” Kawhi Leonard said. “We’re not Finals competitors right now.”

“We don’t know what this team is,” Kyle Lowry said. “We’re all still trying to figure each other out.”

The Celtics are the East’s favorites for a reason. But it doesn’t take much imagination to see the Raptors as a nasty defensive team that flings 3-pointers by the bushel, Lowry giving his death stare and Leonard calling to mind the player who had the Warriors mulling their fate two years ago.

“It’s hard to say, I didn’t really see the Celtics compete last year,” Leonard said. “I wasn’t on the floor.”

“I think we’ll be fine against Boston,” Lowry said. “Every day is different, some days we’ll be good against them. It’s hard to define anything for us right now.”

Related
Kawhi Leonard Keeping an ‘Open Mind’ About Toronto

The post Kawhi Leonard: ‘We’re Not Finals Competitors Right Now’ appeared first on SLAM.

The Toronto Raptors are hiring assistant Nick Nurse as the franchise’s new head coach, league sources tell ESPN. Sides are working through details of contract now.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2018

Nurse replaces Dwane Casey, who was relieved of his duties in May and was recently hired by the Detroit Pistons.

After coaching the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League to a 35-15 record and a second championship in 2013, Nurse made the jump to the NBA, joining the Raptors organization.

RELATED
Report: Raptors To Explore All Options On Trade Market This Offseason

The post Report: Raptors To Hire Assistant Nick Nurse as New Head Coach appeared first on SLAM.