Jordi Fernandez replaces Nick Nurse as Canadian men’s basketball coach

Fernandez has previously coached in national team programs for Spain and Nigeria. Photo: USA TODAY SPORTS.

By Lucas Casaletto

Posted June 27, 2023 5:48 pm.

Last Updated June 27, 2023 7:36 pm.

Nick Nurse has stepped down as head coach of the Canadian Men’s Senior National Basketball Team and will be replaced by current Sacramento Kings associate Jordi Fernandez, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange confirmed on Tuesday.

It was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Nurse was fired as head coach of the Raptors at the end of the season and was later hired by the Philadelphia 76ers. According to Grange, the commitment to coach Team Canada and the 76ers proved to be too much for Nurse.

Nurse helped facilitate the hiring of Fernandez, who previously coached Canadian basketball star Jamal Murray in Denver.

Fernandez, a native of Barcelona, was a candidate to replace Nurse as the Raptors’ head coach and was interviewed by the team’s brass. Toronto eventually hired former Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic.

Fernandez has previously coached in national team programs for Spain and Nigeria.

Fernandez will take over as coach of a Canadian roster that could include several significant NBA players, including Murray, who is fresh off an NBA Championship, as well as All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Knicks forward RJ Barrett, in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics.

Canada’s men’s squad could also include Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Lu Dort and Dwight Powell.

Prior to being hired to coach Team Canada in 2019, Nurse was an assistant coach for the Great Britain national team from 2009 to 2012, including the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.

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