As Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse hit the podium yesterday to answer questions following practice some of his questions focused on the upcoming game versus the OKC Thunder. Yet his responses took a definitive direction toward the two Canadians and one in particular — Luguentz Dort.
The pair spent time together this summer with Nurse the head coach of Team Canada so they got to know each other during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Intentions predicted prior to that event, Dort would become a Nurse favorite and were proven accurate. Knowing how much the Raptors coach loves quality defense it was inevitable Dort would ascend up his preference list.
Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Nurse to call upon Dort in critical situations, give him the hardest defensive assignment and it became almost comical how much he increased his playing time with each match.
Yet, this session offered some new insights as the bench boss discussed how he’s just beginning to feel normal again. After a season spent in Tampa Bay he noted how he can understand why it’s taking the players a while to get back to normal as he’s just beginning personally to feel comfortable and normal again.
Nick Nurse talks OKC Thunder and gushes over Lu Dort!
The Raptors coach told the media this week he finally felt for the first time in ages that he was back into a normal rhythm. He outlined a typical day was “come to practice, go to work, come home, play with the kids and put them to bed and then get in front of my TV and lock in on watching games.”
Because the OKC Thunder are up next for Toronto he was asked about the OKC Thunder with a specific question about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that ended up segueing into Lu Dort.
On SGA he touched on his speed, first step, and how he blows by people is really unique.
“He’s really fast, really unique, really hard to keep him in front. He looks good, I’m glad to see him out there. You know back and playing and playing at a high level.”
Then he transitioned into Lu Dort and let’s just say you need to watch the video to watch how his face lights up when he talks about Lu.
First, he noted how great Lu is playing and how SGA finds him a lot on the court, picking up on a pet play they do driving into the lane and finding each other via kick-out passes. Nurse chuckled when asked why Lu stands out so much and what makes him so different or what it is that is unusual about him (it sounded like Michael Grange asking the question).
Nurse touched on Dort’s effort, athleticism, physique, and tenacity. But in the follow up he offered a high compliment saying when he watches the Thunder every possession you end up watching him as he used his hands to indicate how his eyes are always drawn to Dort.
“Like you walk back every possession you end up watching him, right? Like the spotlight goes right on him every time.”
Nurse then was a bit coy because he’s talking about himself but trying to answer the journalist’s question because they also inferred how much they like Dort and were trying to figure out what it is about Lu that has him/others so enraptured (again I’m pretty sure it was Grange).
“And, you know there’s some people that really just enjoy watching guys give great effort. I think some people really enjoy watching guys play really tough defense, and um if you’re one of those people then you end up watching him a lot.”
Suffice to say Nurse is a big Lu the Beast fan and Dort won’t ever have to worry about making Team Canada for as long as he wants to participate. What I will caution though is I guarantee you the minute Dort is an asset Presti is willing to trade or becomes a free agent Nurse will want to sign him.
I’ve watched Nurse’s pressers from the onset and he rarely bubbles over about a player as frequently or as effusively as he does Lu Dort. It’s not his typical praise that he affords all the stars either.
Bottom line – Nick Nurse is a stan of Lu Dort!’