76ers hope Nick Nurse can lead team to title, as he once did for Raptors

The Philadelphia 76ers have named Nick Nurse as their new head coach as the franchise chases its first NBA championship in 41 years.

Nurse replaced Doc Rivers, who was fired after he led the 76ers to their second straight 50-win season behind Embiid, this season’s league MVP, but again failed to lead them to the Eastern Conference finals.

The 76ers held a 3-2 semifinals series lead against Boston before dropping Game 6 at home and getting crushed in Game 7 on the road.

Nurse will be introduced later Thursday at the 76ers’ headquarters in New Jersey. The length of his contract was not immediately revealed.

“His championship pedigree and diversity of experience mixed with his uniquely creative approach made him our top priority,” team president Daryl Morey said. “We are confident that his leadership and expertise will help us unlock the full potential of our talented roster and bring an exciting new era of championship basketball to Philadelphia.”

Nurse went 227-163 in his five seasons as coach in Toronto, where his .582 winning percentage ranks as the best of any coach in Raptors history. He spent five years as an assistant to former Raptors coach Dwane Casey before taking over the top job.

Nurse also continues to be head coach of Canada’s men’s national team, which will play at the World Cup in Indonesia later this summer as it pursues a spot in the 2024 Olympics.