Top 3 best and worst coaches in Toronto Raptors franchise history

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Nick Nurse, Toronto Raptors
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – APRIL 02: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

No. 1 Worst: Kevin O’Neill

O’Neill may have won 33 games in his lone season with the Raptors, but his season in Canada was a complete mess. While juggling a rookie Chris Bosh and a disgruntled Vince Carter, O’Neill’s 25-25 start was followed by an 8-24 finish and controversial comments in which he questioned the team’s desire to win.

Toronto scored a pathetic 85.4 points per game that season, the worst mark in the NBA.

O’Neill, who was below .500 as a college coach with Marquette, Tennessee, and Northwestern, became the head coach at USC after failing to stink in the pros as an assistant with the Pacers. After going 45-61 and leaving in disgrace while piling up NCAA violations, it makes Toronto’s decision to hire him even more puzzling.

Nick Nurse won a title with the Toronto Raptors.

No. 1 Best: Nick Nurse

While Nurse didn’t end his Raptors career on the best terms with the front office, and he only won one playoff series in five years without Kawhi Leonard, it’s hard to look at this franchise’s history and put the one guy with a ring to flash in your face anywhere except the top spot.

Nurse has a winning record, made the playoffs in three of his five campaigns, and presided over the development of fan favorites like OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet. Time will tell if Rajakovic can come anywhere close to unseating him atop this list.

Next. 12 players the Raptors should not have gambled on. dark