The Toronto Raptors are in search of a new head coach after parting ways with Nick Nurse. Nurse coached the Raptors to an NBA title but couldn't replicate the success in subsequent seasons. The Raptors' front office described the decision as “an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.”
The Raptors are conducting a deep search, considering candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka was reportedly a serious contender for the role at the time of Nurse's firing. However, he has now more strongly linked with the Houston Rockets' vacancy. Two names who have reportedly interviewed with the Raptors, however, are Becky Hammon and JJ Redick.
Raptors Considering Hammon, Reddick
Becky Hammon is a women's basketball legend. Going undrafted in 1999 after a productive career at Colorado State, Hammon quickly became a WNBA fixture. While never winning a title, she was a key contributor for the New York Liberty and San Antonio Stars. After she retired in 2012, she joined the coaching staff of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. She spent eight seasons with the Spurs before leaving to take the head coach position with the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces in 2022. She led the Aces to the 2022 title.
JJ Redick was a Duke basketball standout who enjoyed a productive 15-year career in the NBA. Selected 11th overall in the 2006 draft, he spent seven years with the Magic. After the Magic, he spent time with the Bucks, Clippers, Sixers, Pelicans, and Mavericks before retiring in 2021. After retiring, Redick joined the ESPN broadcast team. However, Redick has no formal coaching experience at any level of the game. However, he and Hammon are just two of many candidates the Raptors are considering.
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