Nick Nurse stepped away from the Philadelphia 76ers to attend his brother’s funeral on May 5, 2026. His brother, Steve Nurse, died unexpectedly at the age of 62.
Nurse left the team following a loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs. The score was 137-98, putting the Knicks ahead in the series at 1-0.
The funeral services took place in Ankeny, Iowa. The team held a film session but did not practice on the day of the funeral.
Nurse has coached the 76ers since the 2023-24 season. He previously led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title in 2019.
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Nick Nurse is expected to return for Game 2 against the Knicks, scheduled for 7 PM. and Mike Brown expressed condolences, stating, “I’d like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother’s family and all their friends.”.
The challenges faced by coaches during high-stakes playoff seasons can be immense. Personal tragedies can complicate their professional responsibilities significantly.