Report: Raptors, Nash meet over head coach opening

The Toronto Raptors met with former Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash to discuss the team's coaching vacancy, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Nash, who went 94-67 in 161 games over three seasons in Brooklyn, agreed to part ways with the Nets early in the 2022-23 campaign after the team opened the campaign 2-5.

The Hall of Famer's tenure in Brooklyn is arguably best remembered for the several incidents involving the team's then-star duo in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, including Durant reportedly calling for his firing and Irving being unavailable for multiple games due to team-issued suspensions.

The 49-year-old Canadian never played for the country's only active franchise but crossed paths with them several times throughout an 18-year career spent with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers. A two-time MVP and eight-time All-Star, he was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021 as one of the greatest players in the league's history.

His most infamous near run-in with Toronto, however, was in the summer of 2012 when he contemplated signing with the club in free agency before heading to the Lakers via a sign-and-trade with the Suns.

Nash played just 65 games over the next two seasons before retiring following the 2014-15 campaign due to lingering back issues. Toronto, meanwhile, immediately changed course and traded for then-Houston Rockets guard Kyle Lowry.

The Raptors are reportedly casting a wide net in their search for a new coach and have spoken with several candidates, including WNBA icon and fellow Hall of Famer Becky Hammon as well as Monty Williams, whom the Suns fired earlier this month. Toronto dismissed 2019 championship-winning head coach Nick Nurse after being eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in the play-in tournament. Nurse and current Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin are reportedly among the finalists to helm the Milwaukee Bucks.