The Philadelphia 76ers won the Nick Nurse sweepstakes, and that story should not be overlooked by any means.
However, perhaps the most crucial part of that story was the fact that Nurse actually chose them over the Phoenix Suns.
He could’ve coached Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and maybe Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, but he chose to give it a shot with Joel Embiid instead.
And according to Skip Bayless, that speaks volumes not only of Embiid’s growth and impact as a player but also about how little left Durant might have in him.
.@RealSkipBayless reacts to Nick Nurse becoming the 76ers next head coach:
"I am not shocked that Nick Nurse chose to bet on Joel Embiid over Kevin Durant." pic.twitter.com/VCqHjB6Up1
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) May 30, 2023
Bayless cited that Durant was pretty much awful in Game 6 vs. the Denver Nuggets and that his body language seemed way off, questioning whether he still has that fire and competitive drive in him.
Skip thinks that was the breaking point that pushed Nurse to stay in the Eastern Conference — which he knows better — rather than trying his luck in the West with Durant.
Notably, most insiders and analysts would argue that he’d have a better shot at winning another ring in Phoenix as opposed to Philadelphia, regardless of whether James Harden comes back next season or not.
The Suns’ title window may not be open for long.
Booker is a rising star, and he’ll only get better as the years go by; there’s no doubt about that.
But maybe coaches aren’t as high on Durant as they used to be, and we shouldn’t even be surprised by that at this point in his career.
NEXT: Former NBA Player Has Advice For James Harden In Free Agency
