:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15210719/nurse.0.jpg)
NBA D-League athletes often do all they can and hope for the best possible outcome; an eventual promotion to The Association.
For coaches and certain front office executives, the hope for a call-up of their own is often kept alive by proven results. With that in mind, perhaps there's arguably no one more deserving than Rio Grande Valley Vipers coach Nick Nurse.
Fresh off leading RGV to the D-League championship, Nurse is now expected to receive an NBA gig once and for all. This past season, he proved himself ready by leading the Vipers to the title while at the same time, helping his team overcome a collection of injuries, call-up departures, trades, and other adversities.
Though Dwayne Casey will remain head coach of the Toronto Raptors under the watchful eye of new management next season, the rest of his staff will receive a bit of a shakeup. Nurse is among the new candidates likely to be hired as an assistant next week.
On a team that has some potential, a few raw prospects, and a bit of international flavor, Nurse's past experience suggests not only would he be a nice fit, but that he'd also be someone who could help get the most out of players on a team desperate to succeed.
A winner of two NBADL titles, Nurse is clearly someone who knows how to manage younger personalities. He knows how to motivate them and keep their spirits up when things get tough. He's a good coach to put in place when you're a team trying to turn things around and figure things out. Nurse could help right the ship, as he's done for numerous teams in the past.