• The Toronto Raptors won the first championship in franchise history in 2019
• Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP after his one-season stint with the team
• Coach Nick Nurse got honest about that season and concerns about Kawhi’s health
The 2019 Toronto Raptors made the most of their window of opportunity after LeBron James left the East in 2018 by trading for a disgruntled Kawhi Leonard. That was a golden move as Kawhi led Toronto to the championship.
Nick Nurse reflected on that season and how the team managed Kawhi’s injury-proneness to keep him available when it mattered most.
“I don’t think anybody knew how it was gonna work. I think he hadn’t played in 12 or 14 months. So I don’t think anybody knew health-wise where he was going to be. We kind of went into it with a slow build. We were not gonna play him in back-to-backs and things like that. He was pretty healthy, but the team was playing so well that we were able to continue to get him rest throughout the season. I think we played 22 games without him, so he played 60 that year… I think we got off to a 13-4 start. Off to a great start.”
Kawhi averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the 2018-19 regular season, playing 60 games. It was the first season where load management was a major media phenomenon, as Kawhi openly rested back-to-backs to keep himself healthy. It worked and has since become commonplace in the NBA.
Nick Nurse Delves Deeper Into That Raptors Run
Nurse explained how he coached that team that nobody had as a title favorite initially. The emergence of talents like Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet was key, along with the acquisitions of Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka. He revealed that he frustrated his players but gradually grew them into a championship group.
“They were upset with me. I was slow-playing and building the foundations of the defense. I was just trying to build certain things and not give them too much gameplan-wise… By the time it was done, that team was really good. We grew a lot from April, the first round, to June.”
The Raptors haven’t been the same since the 2019 season, even though they had retained most of their talent. Champions Siakam and OG Anunoby are still on the roster, with VanVleet leaving this summer. It seems the time for the franchise to move on from their championship-winning stars has come.
Will The Raptors Finally Hit Rebuild?
With the promising talent of Scottie Barnes and 2023 draftee Gradey Dick, the Raptors could build toward an exciting young core. If they move on from the likes of Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby this season, the Raptors will have a clearer direction.
Anunoby is a free agent next summer and could be lost for nothing if the Raptors don’t extend him right now. He averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1,9 steals last season and led the league in steals, showing incredible defensive versatility and becoming a highly-prized asset. The team hasn’t shown any interest in trading him so far.
Siakam is an All-NBA caliber performer who could be the final piece for a contender, but his age may deter teams from trading major assets.
Under new coach Darko Rajakovic, the Raptors could have an exciting future ahead. At this point, they may wait to see how the season plays out and make a decision closer to February.
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