Skip to main content

Jordi Fernandez replaces Nick Nurse as coach of Canadian men's basketball team

Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez looks on during Game 3 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jeff Chiu) Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez looks on during Game 3 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Jeff Chiu)
Share
TORONTO -

Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez is replacing former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse as the head coach of the Canadian men's basketball team, Canada Basketball announced Wednesday.

Nurse, who was hired by Canada Basketball in 2019, had a contract to coach the Canadian team through the 2024 Olympics. He was fired as coach of the Toronto Raptors earlier this year and is now coach of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Nurse says he needed to step away from national team in order to dedicate his time and energy to the 76ers.

Fernandez recently completed his first season as associate head coach with the Sacramento Kings, where he helped guide the team to a 48-34 record -- their best regular season since 2004-05. He spent the previous six seasons as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets.

Internationally, Fernandez was the lead assistant for the Nigerian men's national team at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Fernandez will lead Canada into this summer's World Cup and is also expected to remain in place should Canada qualify for next year's Paris Olympics.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING

BREAKING World Court orders Israel to halt assault on Gaza's Rafah

Judges at the top United Nations court ordered Israel on Friday to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling on South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.

Local Spotlight

Stay Connected