Kawhi Leonard's Game 7, series-clinching buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers is one of the greatest moments in this years playoffs. Indeed, it is a moment that will forever live in the Raptors' lore.
While it established Kawhi Leonard as a game-changer, the play drawn by Nick Nurse also elevated the reputation of the first-year coach.
Now, after guiding the Raptors to a historic first-ever NBA title, Nurse opened up about the memorable play and, interestingly, revealed that he has used it multiple times when he was coaching Iowa Energy (now Iowa Wolves) while he was in the D League (now G League).
Funny enough, Nurse also admitted that he stole the play from … a Hubbie Brown DVD he found in Ames, Iowa.
Per Tommy Birch of Des Moines Register.
“Kawhi’s Game 7 buzzer-beater was the same exact play we used at the Energy — I’ll bet you, 10 times — to either win a game or send a game into overtime. We’d pop Cartier Martin off that thing, and he’d bang that 3-ball (in) or go one-on-one like Kawhi did and make the play on that. That’s an old play I stole off a Hubie Brown DVD I got from Championship Books and Video in Ames, Iowa.”
Nurse is certainly living up to Saint Nick moniker with charmed decisions such as that one.
Here's to hoping that he'll draw more plays inspired by that DVD he watched.
Follow Us
Subscribe