Top 3 best and worst coaches in Toronto Raptors franchise history
By Mike Luciano
No. 2 worst: Darrell Walker
Walker was brought in after the firing of Malone, as Toronto thought he would be the best man for the job of making both Vince Carter and (eventually) Tracy McGrady work. Instead, Walker performed so poorly that he was unceremoniously dumped for Butch Carter soon after.
Walker, who played in the league for ten years before retiring in 1993, went just 56-113 with Toronto. It was too much, too fast for him. Walker has stayed active in coaching, taking charge of both the Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics of the WNBA (failing to last one season with both).
Oddly enough, Walker coached Toronto’s two-way player Markquis Nowell at Little Rock.
Dwane Casey helped build some good Toronto Raptors teams.
No. 2 best: Dwane Casey
Casey may have become infamous for his postseason shortcomings, so much so that Ujiri decided to fire him after he won Coach of the Year. Still, no coach in Raptors history had been to the postseason as consistently as Casey. The championship Raptors would not exist without him.
Casey’s tenure with the Pistons after being fired didn’t paint him in the best light, but the legendary backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan was put in place, improved upon, and promoted by Casey himself. A basketball lifer who is now in Detroit’s front office, Casey deserved more praise for his career.