Nick Nurse discusses coaching Joel Embiid in Philadelphia after previously facing him as an opponent, praising his talent while acknowledging the defensive challenge. Nurse outlines the 76ers' priorities: adding toughness and experience around Embiid and rising guard Tyrese Maxey, fitting a league-wide shift back toward traditional size.
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You now have the opportunity to coach one of the best players, best big man in our league, best players overall. Just what's it been like now on the other side of it where, A, I would also love to know if you throw the shot in his face that Kawhi hit. But what's it been like to coach Joel Embiid as opposed to being on the other side of him?
Well, both those guys, both him and Tyrese, Draymond, were, I thought coaching against them was extremely difficult. And Joel, Joel's been on the end of some of that stuff we just talked about. Like we used to throw, we had so many coverages for him and schemes for him because we just didn't have anybody to guard him. So, but you're not just gonna say, Well, we can't guard them. Like, we can somehow with 4 or 5 guys figure out how to stop them and see if we can live with the rest. But they were both great going against them. Now that I've been here, they're even better. I'm— I thought they were really, really great when I was coaching against them, and I still think they're really, really great. Joel was having the season of his life until he got that injury. He was really playing great and better and all that stuff. And he's awesome.
Absolutely. And speaking of that, speaking of the injury, brings me to my next question. What do you, I agree, Joel was playing absolutely incredible. But my question is, what do you think of the 65-game rule? Because for instance, Joel, in the midst of having the best season of his career, MVP season, right off coming off an MVP season, and the 65-game rule doesn't even allow him to qualify to compete for the MVP. I just wanted to know what's your thoughts on that rule? Do you agree with it? Do you, like, what's your thoughts on it?
I think it's in place to not let somebody play like half the season and still win one of the major awards, right? I think that's why it's in place. I, I don't think that would ever happen anyway. Um, I don't know, you, you probably know more of the financial ramifications of it because I know some of that stuff ties into max contracts. All NBA teams certainly does, um, etc. But I think it's on people's minds, right? And I think it's hard. Um, what do you, what are you trying to accomplish, right? Are you, are you, is it super important for you to to win one of those awards. I mean, I don't know, I, I want a Coach of the Year award, and I certainly would much rather have a championship, but it's still pretty cool to have that Coach of the Year award, man. I ain't gonna lie, right? You know what I mean? Like, absolutely. If I had to coach, if I had to coach 80 of 82 games, you know, I'd probably find a way to do it or whatever, you know, so I could be in line for that if I was lucky enough. I don't know, I don't, I don't know if I love it or not. It's, it's there for now, and let's see how it goes.
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I love Tyrese Maxey's game. It's been incredibly fun to see his growth. And I think what most people don't know about Maxey is as good of a player as he is, he's probably 10 times better person.
He's nice.
Just the vibe he brings to the team. And I've never been on a team with him, but I can see it. Like the vibe he brings to a room, like he just brings great energy all the time. And it's been great to see his growth. What do you guys have to do in order to take that next step? I know Joe hasn't been out of the second round in his career. Like what do you guys gotta do to get over that hump and take that next step?
Well, first of all, you're 100% right about Tyrese. He like, he makes every room he goes into better. I still think he's got a ceiling that hasn't been hit yet. I think he's gotta, he doesn't understand how good he's gonna be yet. I think I can't wait to see him keep growing. And listen, I think that, as you know, man, we need, we got a whole bunch of roster spots, we got a whole bunch of money to spend, and we gotta piece it together around those two guys. Like, who complements them? Who's got some toughness, who's got some winning spirit, who's got some winning experience, you know, who's not afraid, who can accept some roles, you know, all that kind of stuff that you need to build a team. But we're certainly trying. I believe in my front office and Darryl and Elton and ownership and all that stuff. And I certainly believe in those two players.
Absolutely, no, and I think, you know, I think we're also starting to see that shift in the NBA of where You remember back in the day where you had a great point guard or great guard, a great one or two, and you had a great big man and y'all got that, right? Like, and I'm starting to see the NBA shift back. You know, we kind of went through the small ball phase. Everybody was trying to copy our style of play. What's your guy?
Draymond Green.
Right? Like, and I think we're starting to see the league flip back now to size and, Great guard, great big, and you, you guys have those foundational pieces already. So filling, just filling the pieces in.
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