The hopes of the Toronto Raptors could hinge on the relationship between Kawhi Leonard and Nick Nurse. Leonard is an intimidating figure, and Nurse knows that if the organization has any chance of retaining the All-Star for the long haul, the coach will have to develop a bond with the mercurial star.
According to Eric Koreen of The Athletic, Nurse felt a certain level of uneasiness before he met with Leonard for the first time. Nurse told Koreen:
“There’s a certain sense of, I don’t know if nervousness is the right word, but a little bit of uneasiness. You want to make a good first impression. It’s obviously a big move for the organization. You want it to go well. Knowing he was not known as a guy who said much … of anything at all, I considered what would happen if he didn’t really say anything. What was I gonna do?”
Thankfully for Nurse and the Raptors, this didn't happen. Koreen reports that Nurse and Leonard's first meeting went well and turned into a productive conversation. Since then, the player and his coach have kept good lines of communication open.
The first meeting between Nurse and Leonard won't be the make-or-break moment for the future. A solid first impression couldn't hurt, but Leonard's decision will be based more on how the team performs this season. His fit in the city of Toronto and with the Raptors is still unclear, but establishing solid lines of communication with the enigmatic Leonard is a great way to start the recruitment process.
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