Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has told guard OG Anunoby several times that his tough 2018-19 season was out of his control.

Anunoby played in 67 games during the regular season, but missed the entire 2019 playoffs as a result of undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

Via Blake Murphy of The Athletic:

“I’ve had several conversations with him about, ‘Man, it was a tough year for you, but a lot of it was out of your control. You can’t explain why it happens or whatever but you gotta deal with it. Let’s get in the best shape you’ve ever been, let’s work on our skills, let’s improve our shooting, let’s improve our overall ball skill and reading the offensive situations.'

“Because he’s already a good defender, right? And he’s gonna get a year older, so a lot of talent there, man. It’s up to our coaching staff to slot him in, give him a role and let him excel in that role and then let him expand it once he starts doing that.”

OG Anunoby put up 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds over 20.2 minutes per game during the 2018-19 regular season while shooting 45.3 percent from the floor, 33.2 percent from 3-point range and 58.1 percent from the free-throw line.

The Raptors are expecting big things from Anunoby in the upcoming season. He will have a big role on offense now that Kawhi Leonard is gone.