Nick Nurse Replacement Odds & Top Candidates
The news the other day that Ime Udoka, rumoured in some media corners to be the No. 1 candidate to replace Nick Nurse as coach of the Toronto Raptors, had taken the job in Houston with the Rockets caught a lot of people by surprise.
The former Boston Celtics coach was said to have close ties with Raptors president Masai Ujiri. So with Udoka off the books, the speculation from NBA betting sites and fans begin on who will come in to help lead the Raptors out of the woods.
Raptors Slipped into Playoffs, Looking to Build
The team finished 41-41 on the season but lost their play-in game against the Chicago Bulls, and there’s plenty of discussion and debate about the direction for a team four years removed from a championship and with several key roster cogs – Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. – heading into free agency.
FanDuel Sportsbook has some odds on who that next coach will be.
It claims to be the first sportsbook in Ontario to offer this market.
Odds to be the Next Toronto Raptors Coach
Adrian Griffin, 4.2
Sportsnet reported Tuesday that the team’s current assistant coach would be getting an interview for the head coaching position. Promoting from within was how Nurse got the job when Dwane Casey was fired in 2018.
Kenny Atkinson, 4.6
He’s currently an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors and helped coach them to a championship last season. Atkinson was offered the Charlotte Hornets job in 2022 but ultimately turned that down to stay with the Warriors. He has been described as a good teacher, which would benefit Scottie Barnes, for one.
Sam Cassell, 4.8
The Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach and former NBA guard is known for a high basketball IQ, won a championship as a player, and has coached and played with superstars. His time to grab a head coaching gig may have arrived.
Frank Vogel, 6.0
Vogel was named L.A. Lakers coach in 2019, was coach for the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic, and reportedly impressed the Rockets in an interview before they went with Udoka. He led the Lakers to a championship in 2020.
Charles Lee, 9.5
Lee is reportedly a fast riser in the NBA as a head coaching candidate and is currently an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks. He’s young, though, just 38.
Mike D’Antoni, 11.0
We go from young to old. D’Antoni is 71, but there’s no arguing the pedigree. Ranked as one of the top coaches in the modern NBA, D’Antoni, known for his offensive innovations, won a Coach of the Year Award with the Phoenix Suns, coaching Canadian Steve Nash.
Mark Jackson, 15.0
The former coach of the Warriors (for three seasons, 121-109 record), and currently a broadcaster, is looking to get back into the league as a head coach, plus he played for the Raptors as a point guard in 2000-01.
Stan Van Gundy, 15.0
Also a television commentator now, the 63-year-old is a former coach of the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans, compiling a 554-425 won-loss record.
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