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Rapture: Fifteen Teams, Four Countries, One NBA Championship, and How to Find a Way to Win Damn Near Anywhere
Foreword by Phil Jackson
Nick Nurse distills the wisdom, insight, and experiences that helped him lead the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship in his first year as head coach.
NBA fans had low expectations for rookie coach Nick Nurse and his Toronto Raptors. But what those naysayers didn't realize was that Nurse had spent the past thirty years proving himself at every level of the game, from youth programs and college ball, to the NBA D League and Britain's struggling pro circuit. While few coaches have taken such a circuitous path to pro basketball's promised land, the journey-which began at Kuemper Catholic high school in Carroll, Iowa-forged a coach who proved to be as unshakable as he is personable.
On the road, he is known to bring his guitar and keyboard for late-night jazz and blues sessions. In the locker room, he's steadfast and even-keeled regardless of the score. On the court, he pulls out old school tactics with astounding success. A rookie in name but a veteran in attitude, Nurse is seemingly above the chaos of the game and, with only two seasons on his resume, has already established himself as one of the NBA's most admired head coaches.
Now, in this revealing new book - equal parts personal memoir, leadership manifesto, and philosophical meditation - Nurse tells his own story. Given unprecedented access inside the Raptors' locker room, readers get an intimate study of not only the team culture he has built, but also of a rookie coach's unique dynamic with the star players-such as Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, and Pascal Siakam-who helped trailblaze the 2019 championship run. As much for readers of Ray Dalio as for fans of John Wooden and Pat Summit, the result promises to become necessary for anyone looking to forge their own path to success.
Nick Nurse distills the wisdom, insight, and experiences that helped him lead the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship in his first year as head coach.
NBA fans had low expectations for rookie coach Nick Nurse and his Toronto Raptors. But what those naysayers didn't realize was that Nurse had spent the past thirty years proving himself at every level of the game, from youth programs and college ball, to the NBA D League and Britain's struggling pro circuit. While few coaches have taken such a circuitous path to pro basketball's promised land, the journey-which began at Kuemper Catholic high school in Carroll, Iowa-forged a coach who proved to be as unshakable as he is personable.
On the road, he is known to bring his guitar and keyboard for late-night jazz and blues sessions. In the locker room, he's steadfast and even-keeled regardless of the score. On the court, he pulls out old school tactics with astounding success. A rookie in name but a veteran in attitude, Nurse is seemingly above the chaos of the game and, with only two seasons on his resume, has already established himself as one of the NBA's most admired head coaches.
Now, in this revealing new book - equal parts personal memoir, leadership manifesto, and philosophical meditation - Nurse tells his own story. Given unprecedented access inside the Raptors' locker room, readers get an intimate study of not only the team culture he has built, but also of a rookie coach's unique dynamic with the star players-such as Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, and Pascal Siakam-who helped trailblaze the 2019 championship run. As much for readers of Ray Dalio as for fans of John Wooden and Pat Summit, the result promises to become necessary for anyone looking to forge their own path to success.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published September 29, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
January 7, 2021
It's been an interesting experience reading this memoir at the cusp of the 2020-2021 NBA season. So much has changed about our team, the Toronto Raptors, since the events of this book; we've bid farewell to several key players (Kawhi and Danny from last season, but more recently Serge and Marc), we've recruited a new and wholly unrecognizable roster, we've re-signed some familiar, beloved faces.
This made Nick Nurse's words in this book all the more resonant. I enjoyed tracing his journey from accounting undergraduate to point guard/head coach for the Derby Rams in England to assistant and finally head coach of the Raptors.
His grit is evident in each endeavour, and I think this grit has come to characterize our players, too.
It's been a rough start to the new season, but I'm secure in the knowledge that the Raptors will do what they've always done: put in the work and do their teammates—and country—proud.
Like Nurse asserts at the start:
Bottom line: A must-read for any Toronto Raptors fan!
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This made Nick Nurse's words in this book all the more resonant. I enjoyed tracing his journey from accounting undergraduate to point guard/head coach for the Derby Rams in England to assistant and finally head coach of the Raptors.
His grit is evident in each endeavour, and I think this grit has come to characterize our players, too.
It's been a rough start to the new season, but I'm secure in the knowledge that the Raptors will do what they've always done: put in the work and do their teammates—and country—proud.
Like Nurse asserts at the start:
The point I hope that readers will take from what I’ve written is that it’s not about the dream. It’s about the work.
You put in the time and the sweat for the satisfaction of knowing you’ve thrown yourself into the struggle. And you do it to make sure that if somebody does give you that opportunity you were dreaming about, you’re worthy of it.
Bottom line: A must-read for any Toronto Raptors fan!
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2020
This was an interesting book from a popular NBA head coach. All of Canada was euphoric in 2019 as the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship under rookie head coach Nick Nurse. This is a great book for someone who aspires to coach either in the NBA or in other leagues. It was interesting to see how personable Nurse is and how his players respond to him. It was great to get some insight into how Nurse coached the team’s superstar Kawhi Leonard and how he won the Raptor’s players over to buy into his coaching style. I think this is a great book for any Raptors fan and would be a great Christmas present for the basketball lover in your life.
January 4, 2021
A must read if one is obsessed with Nick Nurse and the current Toronto Raptors.
Makes one respect the long and learned journey that NN travelled to get to coach of the year.
He obviously forgot that women also read, and would like to hear the weaving of how he managed family and this career; his opinions of life in Toronto; how to get your own NN hat.
Makes one respect the long and learned journey that NN travelled to get to coach of the year.
He obviously forgot that women also read, and would like to hear the weaving of how he managed family and this career; his opinions of life in Toronto; how to get your own NN hat.
November 29, 2020
Nick Nurse achieved a rare feat for a coach in any professional sport – he coached a team to a championship in his first season as a head coach in the league. In his case, it was leading the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA championship in his first season as an NBA head coach. How he got to that point and all the adventures he had on his way to Toronto is told in this fun-to-read memoir.
Nurse tells how many different countries and teams he has coached in the title and he has entertaining stories to tell about each one. Some of the better ones are about the team he coached in England where in order to keep his job and team together, he had to become the owner as well. He even coached Dennis Rodman for two games in that country.
Unlike some other well-known teams and leagues in Europe and Asia, many teams in England live on a thread and can fold in a moment’s notice. Despite all of this, Nurse shares his love for his time there and other countries as well. When he decided to return to the United States, he found employment in the NBA D-League (now called the G-League) with a new team called the Iowa Energy.
Not only was Nurse excited to coach in his home state, but with a new team, he was able to showcase some of his more innovative coaching ideas. Most prominent among those is his emphasis on proper shooting technique in which he uses a specially marked ball he calls the Nurse Pill. Between that and some innovative offensive plays, he enjoyed success in the D-League in both Iowa and later in the Rio Grande Valley.
When Nurse moved up to become an assistant coach in Toronto under Dwayne Casey and then head coach after Casey was fired after the 2018 playoffs, he took what he had learned coaching for all those teams and applied them to the Raptors. What was especially interesting was his manner in which he communicated and related to his players. He is quite in tune to the mindset of an NBA player and he displays that consistently during the chapters on his time with the Raptors. These are the sections in the book that can most easily be used by readers in their day-to-day lives, no matter what their profession or work entails. One doesn’t have to be a basketball coach or fan to not only enjoy this book but to also get some valuable advice.
I wish to thank Little, Brown and Company for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Nurse tells how many different countries and teams he has coached in the title and he has entertaining stories to tell about each one. Some of the better ones are about the team he coached in England where in order to keep his job and team together, he had to become the owner as well. He even coached Dennis Rodman for two games in that country.
Unlike some other well-known teams and leagues in Europe and Asia, many teams in England live on a thread and can fold in a moment’s notice. Despite all of this, Nurse shares his love for his time there and other countries as well. When he decided to return to the United States, he found employment in the NBA D-League (now called the G-League) with a new team called the Iowa Energy.
Not only was Nurse excited to coach in his home state, but with a new team, he was able to showcase some of his more innovative coaching ideas. Most prominent among those is his emphasis on proper shooting technique in which he uses a specially marked ball he calls the Nurse Pill. Between that and some innovative offensive plays, he enjoyed success in the D-League in both Iowa and later in the Rio Grande Valley.
When Nurse moved up to become an assistant coach in Toronto under Dwayne Casey and then head coach after Casey was fired after the 2018 playoffs, he took what he had learned coaching for all those teams and applied them to the Raptors. What was especially interesting was his manner in which he communicated and related to his players. He is quite in tune to the mindset of an NBA player and he displays that consistently during the chapters on his time with the Raptors. These are the sections in the book that can most easily be used by readers in their day-to-day lives, no matter what their profession or work entails. One doesn’t have to be a basketball coach or fan to not only enjoy this book but to also get some valuable advice.
I wish to thank Little, Brown and Company for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
April 2, 2022
"If you treat a man as he would be and could be, he will become what he would and could be. If you treat a man as what he is, he will remain what he is."
There is not a coach out there with a more interesting journey than that of Toronto Raptors' head coach Nick Nurse and it seems like he is all the better for it. This book is full of great basketball knowledge, wise tips and the kind of coaching and leadership know-how that only comes from decades of practicing and perfecting your craft. I also really enjoyed the nostalgic in-depth look at the Raptors' winning season, the peak of Nurse's coaching career and the Raptors' franchise history (so far).
I thought Nurse's writing was very thoughtful and enjoyable, a fairly easy read with enough technical basketball lingo to show his expertise without confusing the regular reader. I found the ending of the book to be a little anti-climactic, he reaches the pinnacle of a championship and has a huge celebration and then the book just ends, I feel like there could be some more effort in wrapping up the book with a bow but I guess that it is to be expected since Nurse's coaching career and hopefully the Raptors' success is far from over.
There is not a coach out there with a more interesting journey than that of Toronto Raptors' head coach Nick Nurse and it seems like he is all the better for it. This book is full of great basketball knowledge, wise tips and the kind of coaching and leadership know-how that only comes from decades of practicing and perfecting your craft. I also really enjoyed the nostalgic in-depth look at the Raptors' winning season, the peak of Nurse's coaching career and the Raptors' franchise history (so far).
I thought Nurse's writing was very thoughtful and enjoyable, a fairly easy read with enough technical basketball lingo to show his expertise without confusing the regular reader. I found the ending of the book to be a little anti-climactic, he reaches the pinnacle of a championship and has a huge celebration and then the book just ends, I feel like there could be some more effort in wrapping up the book with a bow but I guess that it is to be expected since Nurse's coaching career and hopefully the Raptors' success is far from over.
May 1, 2021
چه کتابی بود! چه داستانی داشت نیک نرس!
کتاب رو کارن مکوندی ترجمه کرده و به رایگان در وبسایت خودش بارگزاری کرده.
کتاب رو کارن مکوندی ترجمه کرده و به رایگان در وبسایت خودش بارگزاری کرده.
August 2, 2021
Ok so Nick Nurse has been in a head coach position since his early-mid twenties. The first 11 were in Europe where he won a few basketball titles before accepting a D-league (G-league) coach position with Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He had a lot of success getting players drafted to the NBA. Houston and Toronto took notice, and NN accepted an assistant coach position with the Toronto Raptors. Then of course when Dwane was fired, Nick was hired as head coach.
Two big things surprised me about this book. One, he coached a 44 year old Dennis Rodman for 3 games in the British Basketball League (Brighton Bears). Second, Nick Nurse and Nate Bjorkgren’s come up story, who at the time of publishing this book was his assistant coach. Their call to the NBA was not the typical career trajectory through a basketball diety’s coaching tree. And it’s quite cool how since this book has been published, both Nate Bjorkgren and Chris Finch have moved on to be head coaches in the NBA.
From what I’ve gathered, Nick Nurse is kind of a hokey coach. At least that’s pretty much the only coaching methods he really shares to any degree of description in this book. Hokey in the sense that he uses a stuffed elephant as some kind of talking stick for players to address “the elephant in the room” related to team conflicts. When he coached the Birmingham Bullets, he typed out letters to his players with a letterhead EXPECT TO WIN and handed them out to try and shift their perception of a losing mindset into a winning culture… or before the start of the 2018-2019 season with the Raptors, he gave out bracelets with AMJ (April-May-June) embossed on it to overcome the mental hurdle of exiting early in the post-season(?). I don’t know.
He’s very obsessed with Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls offence. Nick even asked him to write a foreword which he obliged. That’s pretty honourable. Nick writes kind of a lofty description of his adaption of the triangle offence, which he calls the Monk offence after Thelonious Monk for its “free style methods”. It’s not very well described like most things mentioned in this biography. Theres a pretty interesting chapter about his 3-day stay at Phil’s place in Montana to talk about basketball and life outside basketball.
Nick Nurse mentions that he’s written this book in hopes of his readers to find some rekindled inspiration in reaching their own aspirations - even those outside of the sport… to stay patiently focused in reaching their big goals for the big payoff. His story and ambition is commendable, but I don’t think this book translates well for other endeavours. The bottom line is this is simply an account of his winding career path. And if I was rating this book by Nicks intentions for inspirational writing, I would give it 1 star lol.
Going to rewatch The Last Dance now.
Two big things surprised me about this book. One, he coached a 44 year old Dennis Rodman for 3 games in the British Basketball League (Brighton Bears). Second, Nick Nurse and Nate Bjorkgren’s come up story, who at the time of publishing this book was his assistant coach. Their call to the NBA was not the typical career trajectory through a basketball diety’s coaching tree. And it’s quite cool how since this book has been published, both Nate Bjorkgren and Chris Finch have moved on to be head coaches in the NBA.
From what I’ve gathered, Nick Nurse is kind of a hokey coach. At least that’s pretty much the only coaching methods he really shares to any degree of description in this book. Hokey in the sense that he uses a stuffed elephant as some kind of talking stick for players to address “the elephant in the room” related to team conflicts. When he coached the Birmingham Bullets, he typed out letters to his players with a letterhead EXPECT TO WIN and handed them out to try and shift their perception of a losing mindset into a winning culture… or before the start of the 2018-2019 season with the Raptors, he gave out bracelets with AMJ (April-May-June) embossed on it to overcome the mental hurdle of exiting early in the post-season(?). I don’t know.
He’s very obsessed with Phil Jackson and the Chicago Bulls offence. Nick even asked him to write a foreword which he obliged. That’s pretty honourable. Nick writes kind of a lofty description of his adaption of the triangle offence, which he calls the Monk offence after Thelonious Monk for its “free style methods”. It’s not very well described like most things mentioned in this biography. Theres a pretty interesting chapter about his 3-day stay at Phil’s place in Montana to talk about basketball and life outside basketball.
Nick Nurse mentions that he’s written this book in hopes of his readers to find some rekindled inspiration in reaching their own aspirations - even those outside of the sport… to stay patiently focused in reaching their big goals for the big payoff. His story and ambition is commendable, but I don’t think this book translates well for other endeavours. The bottom line is this is simply an account of his winding career path. And if I was rating this book by Nicks intentions for inspirational writing, I would give it 1 star lol.
Going to rewatch The Last Dance now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2020
I read this book as purely a Raptors fan. I'm not a coach or even a basketball player to any extent of the imagination. I read this as a fan who has been a longtime Raptors fan. I watched the Raptors win the championship last season, and thoroughly enjoyed the reactions of Nurse on the side line.
It was extremely interesting to not only learn about Nurse's journey to the NBA, his philosophies on coaching but then some inside stories on the Raptors' championship run. It was a very engaging book with a good amount of humor tossed in. It was a very fast read (perhaps one of the fastest I have read a text book of this length) and it was made easier by the humor and writing style in this book.
It was definitely an entertaining book, but it wasn't life changing. I didn't really learn anything that I feel like I can apply to my day to day life, but again, I'm not a coach or a player, just a fan. I'm sure that there will be anecdotes or facts that I regurgitate in the future regarding Nurse or perhaps some of the players Nurse references (mainly Lowry/Siakam/Kawhi) but I don't really feel like I learned anything significant from this book.
Was a good read for this Raptors fan!
It was extremely interesting to not only learn about Nurse's journey to the NBA, his philosophies on coaching but then some inside stories on the Raptors' championship run. It was a very engaging book with a good amount of humor tossed in. It was a very fast read (perhaps one of the fastest I have read a text book of this length) and it was made easier by the humor and writing style in this book.
It was definitely an entertaining book, but it wasn't life changing. I didn't really learn anything that I feel like I can apply to my day to day life, but again, I'm not a coach or a player, just a fan. I'm sure that there will be anecdotes or facts that I regurgitate in the future regarding Nurse or perhaps some of the players Nurse references (mainly Lowry/Siakam/Kawhi) but I don't really feel like I learned anything significant from this book.
Was a good read for this Raptors fan!
January 12, 2022
I found Nick wasn’t able to convey those emotions of the finals and told stories in a way that just seemed like the facts being stated, this doesn’t add to the experience of reliving those moments and you can be better off just watching those highlights, I wish the book had more insight on those players involved. It was still interesting reading about the steps it takes to become that head coach in the NBA, and the journey involved however in the end Nick is a much better coach than he is a writer
October 21, 2020
I enjoyed the book through and through, it was probably one of the fastest non-fiction book that I've read. This is not your standard sports memoir, instead, it's supposed to inspire the reader on whatever goals they may have. For basketball fans, it gives the reader an overview of the things that he went through that shaped his coaching philosophy. It's a must-read for Raptors fan, for sure. I have a lengthy book review over at Raptors HQ, if anyone wants to read more about it.
November 2, 2020
Great to have insights in the ways of the coach of my favourite basketball team. Also my favourite coach and what seems like a great human being. I think it could have had a bit more depth and some more "how-to" though. Overall a real nice and quick read.
October 15, 2020
Outstanding Life Advice
Nick Nurse’s memoir is much more than the usual coach’s book.
He shares many great life lessons applicable to anyone’s life. A great read!
Nick Nurse’s memoir is much more than the usual coach’s book.
He shares many great life lessons applicable to anyone’s life. A great read!
December 10, 2020
I genuinely enjoyed this, especially the peak behind the curtains of the Raptors championship season. Also some really valuable leadership knowledge here. I want Nick Nurse to be my coach!
June 26, 2022
Nurse overcomes, one way or another, what a legacy.
September 8, 2023
Easy read, interesting stories, Nick Nurse seems like a good guy (it’s also his book so idk haven’t met the guy).
May 22, 2024
Insightful and personable. Wish he got into decisionmaking during the playoff run in more depth but still fascinating to hear an inside account.
October 28, 2020
Highly recommended for Raptors and sports fans!
December 31, 2020
As a longtime fan of the Toronto Raptors, as well as former educator and someone borderline obsessed with lifelong learning, how could I not absolutely love this book?
August 28, 2024
In book's defense: this is Nick Nurse's victory tour after winning the championship.
In my defense: I didn't know this was a Nick Nurse's victory tour.
Likely an enjoyable read for a hardcore Raptors fan, didn't work for me at all as a basketball fan.
In my defense: I didn't know this was a Nick Nurse's victory tour.
Likely an enjoyable read for a hardcore Raptors fan, didn't work for me at all as a basketball fan.
January 4, 2024
I picked up Nick Nurse’s hard cover book from the deep discount table at my local Book City. It was an impulse buy and my expectations were low, but what a story and what an interesting guy. Nurse’s passion for basketball is clear, as evidenced by the twenty odd years he spent chasing his dream to coach in the NBA: first kicking around second rate leagues in the UK and Belgium before creating an opportunity for himself to lead a development league team in the US. He didn’t get to the NBA until his mid-forties, when the Raptors took a chance on him, and the rest as they say is history. But the years he hustled to make ends meet - when quitting and getting a real job would have been so much more logical and easier - reminds me of Fred VanVleet, the undrafted star for the Raptors whose motto is: bet on yourself. Those years of hard graft, where he visited other programs in an effort to constantly improve his skill set, helped him to develop a steeliness, an inner conviction, and a self awareness you don’t always associate with professional sports (although basketball in particular can produce some interesting characters, see Phil Jackson). The man refreshingly knows his own mind. He’s not afraid to challenge convention - whether it be adopting what are perceived to be outdated or amateurish methods if the situation demands it (famously guarding one of the best shooters in NBA history with a scheme most players last used in High School), or helping to advance the thinking on the types of shots an offence should take to maximize efficiency. He’s also a great teacher: it’s been a real pleasure to watch the players under his guidance develop and excel into superstars, and the teams he puts on the floor to constantly punch above their weight. He also deserves a ton of credit for successfully assimilating Kawhi Leonard, a notoriously tricky personality, into the squad that won the NBA Championship in his first year as a head coach. The Raptors are a very easy organization to cheer for, well run from top to bottom. The city of Toronto is lucky to have coach Nurse: long may the relationship continue.
November 13, 2020
If you're a Raptors fan, you'll love reading about the team and the championship run from the perspective of the mad genius himself. He gives us an inside look at his philosophy on coaching as well as all the events that led to him being named head coach.
And even if you're not a Raptors fan, Nick's story is inspiring and reminds us that it takes a ridiculous amount of work, persistence, and some creativity to carve your own path in order to make your dreams a reality.
If this kid from Iowa managed to make it to the top, there's a chance we all can.
And even if you're not a Raptors fan, Nick's story is inspiring and reminds us that it takes a ridiculous amount of work, persistence, and some creativity to carve your own path in order to make your dreams a reality.
If this kid from Iowa managed to make it to the top, there's a chance we all can.
May 2, 2021
Interesting perspective on a winding and unusual path to the very pinnacle of a profession. It offers a glimpse into the grind of continual self-improvement and dedication to ones craft required to do so. However, it does feel a bit shallow at times, and some parts read like a summary of the games with less analysis than a Ringer article. Overall though, I was happy to read his tale, and gain a bit more of an insight into what went on behind the scenes of the Raptors championship run, and the few anecdotes peppered in about Kawhi, Kyle, Pascal and Freddy. Could have used more of those though.
November 16, 2020
Six and a half hours over two readings on one day. That is all the time it took me to devour this book. Full disclosure that I’m a basketball junkie and a Raptors fan but this book by current Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is produced to play to more than just hoopheads.
Nurse has hung his shingle up in more than a few countries and in many different levels of this sport of basketball but as is so well laid out in this memoir, when one has the ability and hunger to pick up little nuggets along the way and make them your own, many times success awaits you. He makes no secret that he has stolen some of his greatest plays or methods of coaching, which is something many of us are fearful admitting in our professional lives. We often conjure up smokescreens to lull people into believing we are the original scriptwriter but Nurse reveals the history behind some of his playcalling and game prep claiming no creativity to most of them. That said, in no way does that detract from who he is as a leader. You can admire past coaches like Phil Jackson (who provides a foreward in this book) and lift some of their ideas but you still have to motivate your team to execute your plan as a whole, something that the Raptors did by winning their first ever NBA championship under Nurse in his first year as head coach.
The beauty of this book, and of his philosophy on coaching, is that the reader can easily apply it to their own life. Any person who heads a team at work, as a community leader, as a parent, even just within a group of friends can lift ideas from Rapture and utilize them as motivational tools for all involved. Nurse unnecessarily makes this point more than a few times in the book which felt a little too much like “are you getting this?” to me. As a longtime reader of leadership books I can say that he nailed everything on the nose so well that even the casual reader would indeed get it without the prompting.
Nonsports fans will still get some great ideas from this book, but if you are a basketball fan you’ll devour this. Note that given the fact that Nurse is still an active head coach you won’t find any dirt within. He played every player and team related reference safely and you can’t blame him for that in today’s NBA player movement environment.
Pick this up and challenge yourself to lead better, listen better, and win.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown And Company for providing a copy for review.
Nurse has hung his shingle up in more than a few countries and in many different levels of this sport of basketball but as is so well laid out in this memoir, when one has the ability and hunger to pick up little nuggets along the way and make them your own, many times success awaits you. He makes no secret that he has stolen some of his greatest plays or methods of coaching, which is something many of us are fearful admitting in our professional lives. We often conjure up smokescreens to lull people into believing we are the original scriptwriter but Nurse reveals the history behind some of his playcalling and game prep claiming no creativity to most of them. That said, in no way does that detract from who he is as a leader. You can admire past coaches like Phil Jackson (who provides a foreward in this book) and lift some of their ideas but you still have to motivate your team to execute your plan as a whole, something that the Raptors did by winning their first ever NBA championship under Nurse in his first year as head coach.
The beauty of this book, and of his philosophy on coaching, is that the reader can easily apply it to their own life. Any person who heads a team at work, as a community leader, as a parent, even just within a group of friends can lift ideas from Rapture and utilize them as motivational tools for all involved. Nurse unnecessarily makes this point more than a few times in the book which felt a little too much like “are you getting this?” to me. As a longtime reader of leadership books I can say that he nailed everything on the nose so well that even the casual reader would indeed get it without the prompting.
Nonsports fans will still get some great ideas from this book, but if you are a basketball fan you’ll devour this. Note that given the fact that Nurse is still an active head coach you won’t find any dirt within. He played every player and team related reference safely and you can’t blame him for that in today’s NBA player movement environment.
Pick this up and challenge yourself to lead better, listen better, and win.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown And Company for providing a copy for review.
May 1, 2021
Wow, I enjoyed this book. Full credit to Nick Nurse for coming up with the stories and Michael Sokolove for helping put them together in an entertaining novel. This is a story of Nick Nurse's journey to becoming the coach of an NBA championship team. We don't get sidetracked by details of his social life, or gossip or thoughts about his players and fellow coaches. We get a wonderful tale of his ups and downs of coaching and (even better) we get a few insights into his coaching philosophies and what helped shape them.
Why I love that is that his expertise is coaching so he helps peel back the curtain so we get a glimpse in what it means to be a coach and a detailed look at how long and hard the road was for him to get to be an NBA coach. I recently read Doug Smith;s book on the Raptors and wasn't that thrilled. Doug is a reporter and I finished that book without Doug imparting any wisdom or insights of HIS specialty - being a sport's writer. This is what I want from a book - let me know about what makes You unique. It helps that Nick has had such a fascinating life and it helps that he focused on his coaching. He doesn't overwhelm you with coaching ideas but the ones he does discuss are discussed in a way any casual fan can follow. His shooting spectrum, his shooting technique and the Nurse Pill, how his defensive schemes changed for the playoffs - it's all discussed. And it hooked me every step of the way.
Now, you might be wondering "How did Nick meet his wife?" "What was it like when Nick was asked to play with his favorite band?""Any gossip on Lowry?" None of this is discussed but I am fine with that. While I am sure it is a sweet story how he met his wife, that isn't interesting to me as focusing on his coaching journey. Sure we get three choice Kawhi Leonard quotes/moments and I loved those (since Kawhi is such a black box) but that's as far as it goes. The moment that stuck out to me was Nick's first meeting with Leonard where Nick started explaining his offensive and defensive schemes and Leonard grabbed a marker and started suggesting improvements. It was a simple story but said a lot. The coach connected with the taciturn player through the thing they were both nerds about - basketball.
If you are a fan of the Raptors or are curious what the life of a coach is like - this is a wonderful book to get. I enjoyed every page.
Why I love that is that his expertise is coaching so he helps peel back the curtain so we get a glimpse in what it means to be a coach and a detailed look at how long and hard the road was for him to get to be an NBA coach. I recently read Doug Smith;s book on the Raptors and wasn't that thrilled. Doug is a reporter and I finished that book without Doug imparting any wisdom or insights of HIS specialty - being a sport's writer. This is what I want from a book - let me know about what makes You unique. It helps that Nick has had such a fascinating life and it helps that he focused on his coaching. He doesn't overwhelm you with coaching ideas but the ones he does discuss are discussed in a way any casual fan can follow. His shooting spectrum, his shooting technique and the Nurse Pill, how his defensive schemes changed for the playoffs - it's all discussed. And it hooked me every step of the way.
Now, you might be wondering "How did Nick meet his wife?" "What was it like when Nick was asked to play with his favorite band?""Any gossip on Lowry?" None of this is discussed but I am fine with that. While I am sure it is a sweet story how he met his wife, that isn't interesting to me as focusing on his coaching journey. Sure we get three choice Kawhi Leonard quotes/moments and I loved those (since Kawhi is such a black box) but that's as far as it goes. The moment that stuck out to me was Nick's first meeting with Leonard where Nick started explaining his offensive and defensive schemes and Leonard grabbed a marker and started suggesting improvements. It was a simple story but said a lot. The coach connected with the taciturn player through the thing they were both nerds about - basketball.
If you are a fan of the Raptors or are curious what the life of a coach is like - this is a wonderful book to get. I enjoyed every page.
December 27, 2020
Many basketball books focus only on the nuts and bolts of the game. Nick Nurse has taken that template and extended it masterfully in Rapture.
Nurse spends plenty of time on wonky basketball topics. He describes the offenses and defenses he's run throughout his career. They're merits and drawbacks are made clear. Nurse also did a great job of giving credit to people whose ideas he adapted throughout his own career. I'd never heard of Darrell Mudra, but by the end of the book, he was a wise, sage like figure whose teachings permeated the entire book. The Xs and Os are simplified for laypersons like me, but coaches should be able to glean some insights. At the very least, they'll get some great book recommendations.
The part of the book I enjoyed the most was Nurse talking about how he leads his teams. He doesn't hold anything back, and speaks candidly about his own failings where applicable. It's a refreshing change of pace from books where everything bad that happens is someone else's fault. Nurse also talks extensively about game situations and how he (and his players), led the Toronto Raptors to a championship. I've been a tangential fan of the team for years, but I'm now a huge fan of Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam. These guys were the heart and would of that team and made the championship possible.
I recommend this book for all basketball fans. I also think business leaders may be able to get some good insights about team building and accountability.
Nurse spends plenty of time on wonky basketball topics. He describes the offenses and defenses he's run throughout his career. They're merits and drawbacks are made clear. Nurse also did a great job of giving credit to people whose ideas he adapted throughout his own career. I'd never heard of Darrell Mudra, but by the end of the book, he was a wise, sage like figure whose teachings permeated the entire book. The Xs and Os are simplified for laypersons like me, but coaches should be able to glean some insights. At the very least, they'll get some great book recommendations.
The part of the book I enjoyed the most was Nurse talking about how he leads his teams. He doesn't hold anything back, and speaks candidly about his own failings where applicable. It's a refreshing change of pace from books where everything bad that happens is someone else's fault. Nurse also talks extensively about game situations and how he (and his players), led the Toronto Raptors to a championship. I've been a tangential fan of the team for years, but I'm now a huge fan of Kyle Lowry, Kawhi Leonard, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam. These guys were the heart and would of that team and made the championship possible.
I recommend this book for all basketball fans. I also think business leaders may be able to get some good insights about team building and accountability.
January 11, 2021
A native Iowan reader reviewing a native Iowan author may come off as biased but this book was one of those reads that just put you in a better mood when you come back to the pages. I am a big believer that the titles of Coach and Chef should be given with as much respect as we use the title of Doctor in our daily lives. Coach Nurse has earned the title of coach since he was a 22 year old assistant after his collegiate playing career concluded. This book shows he is truly a student of leadership and will never reach 100% knowledge.
He references an obscure coaching book throughout the book published in the mid-80s which reminds us that leadership is timeless and never really becomes dated. 2020 was a year where NBA coaches were given head coaching jobs with no prior experience, Coach Nurse earned his strips with college coaching, coaching in Europe, Developmental Leagues and finally as an NBA Assistant prior to be given the head coaching opportunity in Toronto. The detail that their Championship year goes into provides such a great behind the scenes look and really digests the pressure and leadership challenges that he had. He stays on script with his professional life so much that he doesn't even mention his wife and children until the 85% mark of the book!
A great read for Coaches of any sport of course but also business leaders and anyone that has or is willing to put the work in for their dream job!
He references an obscure coaching book throughout the book published in the mid-80s which reminds us that leadership is timeless and never really becomes dated. 2020 was a year where NBA coaches were given head coaching jobs with no prior experience, Coach Nurse earned his strips with college coaching, coaching in Europe, Developmental Leagues and finally as an NBA Assistant prior to be given the head coaching opportunity in Toronto. The detail that their Championship year goes into provides such a great behind the scenes look and really digests the pressure and leadership challenges that he had. He stays on script with his professional life so much that he doesn't even mention his wife and children until the 85% mark of the book!
A great read for Coaches of any sport of course but also business leaders and anyone that has or is willing to put the work in for their dream job!
March 16, 2025
I’ve covered the Toronto Raptors on and off for more than a decade, so I have spoken to Nick Nurse quite a few times. I’m sure he doesn’t know my name but we might be at the point where he knows me to see me. I know him a bit.
In those scrums and news conferences Nurse always gave me the impression that he is very impressed with himself. But also, people are different in front of the camera. Some have to project an air of confidence.
This book confirmed for me that it was no act, no posture. Nick Nurse is very impressed with himself.
If you want some behind the scenes details of how the Toronto Raptors built their championship team, this book is for you. I learned a bit about basketball too.
But, unfortunately, there’s not a lot of self-reflection in this memoir. Never does Nurse say “jeez I could have done that better” except acknowledging that he yelled too much when he became a coach for the first time in his 20s. Beyond an introduction to his early life in Carroll, Iowa, there is little to no personal details in here either. Nurse only mentions his wife and children once.
That’s totally ok, everyone is entitled to keep their personal life personal. But if a coach is going to keep that stuff private, I’d like it balanced with more details about the sport. Maybe not behind-the-scenes stuff about the team they coach, but more Xs and Os, more strategy
In those scrums and news conferences Nurse always gave me the impression that he is very impressed with himself. But also, people are different in front of the camera. Some have to project an air of confidence.
This book confirmed for me that it was no act, no posture. Nick Nurse is very impressed with himself.
If you want some behind the scenes details of how the Toronto Raptors built their championship team, this book is for you. I learned a bit about basketball too.
But, unfortunately, there’s not a lot of self-reflection in this memoir. Never does Nurse say “jeez I could have done that better” except acknowledging that he yelled too much when he became a coach for the first time in his 20s. Beyond an introduction to his early life in Carroll, Iowa, there is little to no personal details in here either. Nurse only mentions his wife and children once.
That’s totally ok, everyone is entitled to keep their personal life personal. But if a coach is going to keep that stuff private, I’d like it balanced with more details about the sport. Maybe not behind-the-scenes stuff about the team they coach, but more Xs and Os, more strategy
October 27, 2020
Nick Nurse shows off his coach nerddom in this one. Low on gossip and inside school on the NBA and much heavier on the coaching skills that he has developed throughout his career to this point. He cites a number of other coaching books that he might just foster a re-printing of a past coaching bible or two.
The opening pages of the book seem to evoke the voice of Ray Kinsella from Field of Dreams as Nick gives the account of his upbringing and his high school years. From there he proceeds to describe his success as an athlete and then he catapult start into coaching fresh out of university. Rather than indulging in the zaniness that he probably could unfurl with his tales from outer reaches of the basketball fraternity in England he focuses on his own growth as a coach and the lessons that he learned along the way and how he has applied them.
Great lessons throughout and that is what he, as a coach, strives for. It is a read that makes you want to engage with Nurse on the topic that he is clearly passionate. I'm not sure what his plans are for his PhD thesis but if it is on leadership studies, then I'd be keen to read Dr. Nurse's next work too.
The opening pages of the book seem to evoke the voice of Ray Kinsella from Field of Dreams as Nick gives the account of his upbringing and his high school years. From there he proceeds to describe his success as an athlete and then he catapult start into coaching fresh out of university. Rather than indulging in the zaniness that he probably could unfurl with his tales from outer reaches of the basketball fraternity in England he focuses on his own growth as a coach and the lessons that he learned along the way and how he has applied them.
Great lessons throughout and that is what he, as a coach, strives for. It is a read that makes you want to engage with Nurse on the topic that he is clearly passionate. I'm not sure what his plans are for his PhD thesis but if it is on leadership studies, then I'd be keen to read Dr. Nurse's next work too.
January 3, 2021
I loved this book. I’m an avid raptors fan. I wanted to read this book to understand and get to know our coach. The rookie coach who won us a championship and then coach of the year the following year without Kawhi.
It was cool to see his long shot journey. Never being a stud player, he had to go the long route. He coached and played at same time at beginning, went to Europe and never gave up. He’s a big believer in always learning.
It was also awesome as a big fan of the team later in the book some insight into his decisions and things tha happened on and off the court as raptors employee and coach. Insight on kawhi, Kyle, pascal and Fred van vleet.
Some things I wrote down
His meeting with Phil Jackson. Everything you do is for benefit of the team. Create a slogan. Your coaching principles, be concise . Be CONSISTENT in coaching actions . I enjoyed listening to his experiences as the new guy. Be prepared and know what your talking about. First impression matters Last words nurse: enjoyed leading a team anywhere he’s been. In any profession lesson has to be live in the present, throw yourself into each day. If bigger job, better be prepared to succeed
It was cool to see his long shot journey. Never being a stud player, he had to go the long route. He coached and played at same time at beginning, went to Europe and never gave up. He’s a big believer in always learning.
It was also awesome as a big fan of the team later in the book some insight into his decisions and things tha happened on and off the court as raptors employee and coach. Insight on kawhi, Kyle, pascal and Fred van vleet.
Some things I wrote down
His meeting with Phil Jackson. Everything you do is for benefit of the team. Create a slogan. Your coaching principles, be concise . Be CONSISTENT in coaching actions . I enjoyed listening to his experiences as the new guy. Be prepared and know what your talking about. First impression matters Last words nurse: enjoyed leading a team anywhere he’s been. In any profession lesson has to be live in the present, throw yourself into each day. If bigger job, better be prepared to succeed
January 12, 2023
This is a book about a coach who follows a VERY unorthodox path to get to his dream job.
God has me in a place where I am in my dream job as a teacher of World Religions/Philosophy & Worldview and a basketball coach that took a VERY unorthodox path to get me here as well.
So, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and I have that in common.
Here are a few diamonds/resources I gathered:
-He used a ZMT defense, which stood for zone, man, trap: 2 guys play man, two in a zone, and 1 rovers to trap whoever had the ball (51).
-Every practice, he makes the score tied on the scoreboard with 3 minutes left. Sometimes 1. Practice end-game situations to avoid losing close ones. (85)
-"Leadership must be defined in such a way that true leaders can be distinguished from mere power holders," Mudra wrote (92). He is famous for being one of Nurse's most influential books:
Freedom in the Huddle: The Creative Edge in Coaching Psychology
-Mudra's book also says, "If you treat a man as he would and could be, he will become what he would and could be. If you treat him as what he is, he will remain what he is" (184).
God has me in a place where I am in my dream job as a teacher of World Religions/Philosophy & Worldview and a basketball coach that took a VERY unorthodox path to get me here as well.
So, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and I have that in common.
Here are a few diamonds/resources I gathered:
-He used a ZMT defense, which stood for zone, man, trap: 2 guys play man, two in a zone, and 1 rovers to trap whoever had the ball (51).
-Every practice, he makes the score tied on the scoreboard with 3 minutes left. Sometimes 1. Practice end-game situations to avoid losing close ones. (85)
-"Leadership must be defined in such a way that true leaders can be distinguished from mere power holders," Mudra wrote (92). He is famous for being one of Nurse's most influential books:
Freedom in the Huddle: The Creative Edge in Coaching Psychology
-Mudra's book also says, "If you treat a man as he would and could be, he will become what he would and could be. If you treat him as what he is, he will remain what he is" (184).
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