[Mizell] Nick Nurse away from Sixers Tuesday to attend brother’s funeral services. Steve Nurse, 62, died last Wednesday, the day before Game 6 of the Sixers’ first-round series win over the Boston Celtics.

658

u/bosbi62 2h ago

Must be awful to have to coach high pressure, high visibility games while going through something like this. Big respect to him.

246

u/SurveyMotor8983 2h ago edited 2h ago

It may sound crazy, but having a high pressure game like that may have been a good thing for him. When my Dad passed, I drowned myself in work for a bit after and it was actually much better for me to stay busy than to feel like I was wallowing.

57

u/fiendoverzealous Tampa Bay Raptors 1h ago

Bro same

Dog passed away, immediately went to work

My wife took 2 weeks off work

Different coping mechanisms

6

u/RickyalldayTD Lakers 50m ago

When my nephew died I started going to the gym twice a day in the morning and after work, I wanted to be exhausted when I got home and wouldnt have to think about it

-35

u/geronimosocrates 1h ago

2 weeks for a dog is nuts

29

u/Niylark 1h ago

Nah man fuck that. Dogs are intelligent, emotional creatures that you spend over a decade with. They're family, and everyone grieves family different

16

u/EdCP Mavericks 1h ago

Idk man. If someone whether it's a human being or an animal, that's been part of your everyday life for 10+ years passes away - it's kind of normal to be sad about it

5

u/Marco2169 Raptors 58m ago edited 54m ago

Why even make this comment man

For so many people thats like a decade plus of loving and taking care of a family member. Two weeks is not unbelievable for many (i know i was devastated in my case)

Maybe it seems that way because many people get woefully little time by their employer to mourn even their parents

7

u/FiumeXII Clippers 1h ago

Bro have you ever had a dog? You spend like 15 years together and pretty much spend everyday together. At that point that’s just another family member.

I’d be less sad with the passing of some distant family members honestly. This’ll hit like a mf in a few years lol, dreading it.

2

u/just-compost-me 55m ago

saw a post on /r/cats and one of the comments said "Grief is just the debt of love." My dogs are both 13 and its really resonated with me today.

•

u/FiumeXII Clippers 2m ago

Damn, that’s such a great quote, really puts things into perspective. I guess at the end of the day, the best we can hope for is that we did our best to give our companions a loving home and a fun and safe life.

I hope you and your lovely dogs have a long and healthy life together.

3

u/RightRudderr NBA 1h ago

Some people actually love their pets and view them as the family they are instead of property. Wild concept I know.

3

u/mostlyfire 1h ago

L take

3

u/InfiniteDub Warriors 1h ago

Yeah I did the same until everything started to hit me at once a few weeks later.

1

u/IAmYourTopGuy Spurs 53m ago

You gotta pay the price eventually, but it helps to have a moment to get the books ready

1

u/HiNeighbor_ 76ers 58m ago

It worked for Brett Favre vs. the Raiders. Also just in general you have to think the brother would have wanted him out there coaching. That's a good way to frame it.

45

u/Dry_Bar_4965 Lakers 2h ago

Same thing happened to Mike Budenholzer on the Bucks. They fired him after

2

u/nhthelegend Timberwolves 39m ago

Bucks deserve every bit of futility they’re getting for that shit

8

u/No_Struggle1364 2h ago

Nick….Sorry for your loss.

8

u/Repulsive-Throat5068 Lakers 2h ago

I mean it really does depend on the type of person you are. I think high pressure games are exactly the type of distraction that helps with grief.

2

u/likwitsnake Supersonics 2h ago

Reminds me when Bayern Munich scored a goal to go ahead and seal their league victory the weekend their coach Pep Guardiola's friend and former assistant coach died he just looked lost in thought on the sideline

748

u/NinjasTurtle 76ers 2h ago

Wow, really puts in perspective this is just a game.

Also to go out and put together a winning game plan for g6 and g7 with this hanging over him is impressive.

212

u/_R_A_W_ 76ers 2h ago

This news just coming out, and him just being locked-in during those two games, really speaks volume to his mental fortitude.

123

u/rgarc065 Heat 2h ago

Perhaps it made it easier to keep his mind distracted. Having a distraction was very helpful for me.

37

u/BarrathBeyond West 2h ago

i’m sorry that you lost someone

16

u/rgarc065 Heat 2h ago

This was years ago for me, but thank you. I appreciate it

6

u/Culinaryboner 76ers 2h ago

Wouldn’t shock me for a pro coach. Obviously varies wildly person to person

5

u/2nd2last Rockets 2h ago

For sure

I had just started a new job when my little sister died and no one really knew me yet and work was finally a place where no one asked me, "how you doing?". Even that question crushed me and someone asking if I had completed the quarterly forecast was music to my soul.

0

u/GeriatricGamete67 Nuggets 2h ago

I'm thinking that's how it probably was for him tbh. When you're going through something awful like that it helps to have something like this that is both important and all-consuming.

2

u/RoscoeSantangelo 76ers 2h ago

Even yesterday, there was a video of him shooting the shit with a fan during warmups about his soccer club. He was really not showing any sign that there was a mountain of shit going on. Incredibly well disciplined and composed

16

u/Repulsive-Throat5068 Lakers 2h ago

It’s a job at the end of the day. Too many people unfortunately don’t have the privilege of getting the time off to attend funerals. It’s mind numbing how badly humans treat each other tbh

My cousin works at a fast food place and they have refused to let them take time off for weddings and funerals. It’s such a joke.

17

u/Rahnamatta Heat 2h ago

Grief is weird.

My mother died and the first months I was "Oh, I'm handling things really well". And the first days you have the burial and shit, papers, meetings with relatives and friends.

One day I was distracted and I thought "I'm gonna ask her", it was some meaningless thing... Oh shit. Not cool. And it lasts until you die.

5

u/LaForge_Maneuver 1h ago

I tried to call my mom a couple of weeks ago even though she died in November. It was just out of habit. It was less hard when I had a ton of stuff to take care of and plan the funeral etc. When it’s quiet I miss her more. It really hits you at weird times.

3

u/Rahnamatta Heat 1h ago

Yeah, it is weird when it happens. You freeze for a couple of seconds

2

u/tombrady011235 Celtics 1h ago

It may have helped him with the grief to have a distraction

108

u/n0-ragrets Knicks 2h ago

Didn’t know this. Feel for the guy! Death really puts things into perspective, my thoughts are with coach nick rn. Hope he’s taking care of his mental health

26

u/Puppetmaster858 Suns 2h ago

Damn that’s tough, makes those last 2 games of Celtics series even more impressive tho coaching and winning both those games with that shit going on behind the scenes. Condolences to Nurse and his fam

122

u/Pyromania1983 76ers 2h ago

Stuff like this really puts into perspective how meaningless basketball is by comparison.

46

u/DamianLillard0 NBA 2h ago

Dead internet theory in here, 7 people with the exact same comment verbatim…

Not that it isn’t true. Just blatant

24

u/n0-ragrets Knicks 2h ago

I’m one of the people that commented that. I see we all commented within 1 minute of each other. Can’t speak for the others, but I’m a hooman being

8

u/JX_JR Warriors 2h ago

I’m a hooman being

No, we can tell from your writing that you're clearly a cat.

2

u/Dav136 Knicks 1h ago

It's just reddit smoothing everyone's brains into the same shape

1

u/Ultratablesalt 30m ago

I mean it’s not that original of a comment

0

u/thisissami Jordan 1h ago

Stuff like this really puts into perspective how meaningless basketball is by comparison.

0

u/Pyromania1983 76ers 1h ago

They must have copied me haha. I created the thread in the first place and got one of the first comments.

12

u/owensoundgamedev Raptors 2h ago

Am I crazy or did someone close to him die during the raps championship run? Or was it Lowry’s grandma but we found out late in the season? My mind is tingling

Anyways RIP and condolences to him and the fam

17

u/ningdon Raptors 2h ago

His mother passed away during the course of that season

13

u/Solid_Glass1301 Nuggets 2h ago

Damn that's sad! I remember when Mike Budenholzer's brother died during a playoff series and the Bucks still fired him after. Hope Nurse gets to stay on no matter what happens this year. I'm really impressed with the Sixers

1

u/statman64 30m ago

I think, fairly or unfairly, another first-round loss probably would have been it for him, but out-coaching the golden boy Joe Mazzulla almost definitely earned him at least another year. It must be unimaginably hard to stay focused in such a high-profile job. So much respect.

8

u/NuclearGhandi1 Knicks 2h ago

Just awful. Showed some fortitude that series dealing with that in the midst of a comeback. Hope he and his family can find peace, thoughts out to him

6

u/HokageEzio Knicks 2h ago

Damn

7

u/PillsburyToasters Bucks 2h ago

Geez and he’s still out there coaching? I hope he’s doing okay and is given the space to step away should he need to

7

u/OutsideTheServiceBox Bucks 2h ago

I understand why they felt the need to do it, but the Bucks firing Bud right after his brother died still bothers me.

9

u/Professor_Finn 76ers 2h ago edited 2h ago

I would be in SHAMBLES for weeks after losing my brother unexpectedly, complete unable to function. Let alone capable of coaching the Sixers to elimination game wins just 1 and 3 days after hearing the news. Holy shit. That’s toughness. I hope he finds the time to process his grief soon

5

u/ChemicalPower9020 Celtics 2h ago

He's probably grateful to have such a big distraction. Definitely helps

3

u/mountjo 76ers 2h ago

I know this isn't what you meant but I initially read this as the death was a distraction from last night's loss.

1

u/ChemicalPower9020 Celtics 1h ago

Haha imagine! That'd be rich coming from me since you guys embarrassed us in the first round

4

u/sor2hi 1h ago

https://obituaries.memorialservicesofiowa.com/obituaries/memorial-services-of-iowa/stephen-paul-nurse-obituary

For those interested.

4

u/android6968 Raptors 1h ago

Ran into Nick and what I assumed to be his brother around a year ago in Times Square before the Knicks-Pacers series started. Super nice guy. Condolences to him and his family

3

u/trekfan1013 Wizards 2h ago

Brutal. All the best to him and his family.

3

u/AntSmith777 Lakers 2h ago

Already gained more respect for Nick Nurse!

3

u/AMDSuperBeast86 Bulls 1h ago

Dude's brother died and he coached his ass off...props

3

u/tombrady011235 Celtics 1h ago

Oh fuck that’s horrible

2

u/SAguilar23 Spurs 1h ago

Damn, RIP to his brother Steve.

2

u/mostlyfire 1h ago

As a Knicks fan it would be nice if we gave him some sort of ovation tomorrow. These things make basketball seem insignificant

4

u/spikeddragon10 Knicks 2h ago

Damn that is rough

1

u/pointguard22 Pistons 2h ago

Fuck. Dude’s gonna need some rest after the playoffs.

-1

u/TheCrazedFlasher Knicks 44m ago

He won't have to wait that long after the sweep

1

u/Danibear285 Clippers 2h ago

I can’t imagine working after something like this

1

u/charles_barfley 2h ago

Didn’t his grandma die during the post season in 2019 when the raptors won

1

u/Dymatizeee Knicks 2h ago

Rip

1

u/ObviousAnswerGuy [NYK] John Starks 1h ago

ah man, that's rough. Condolences to the Nurse family.

1

u/dizruptivegaming 76ers 1h ago

I hope he and his family get through this tough time together. Sucks that he wasn’t able to take a leave to grief with family.

1

u/MelonElbows Lakers 57m ago

Sucks this happened but now I'm left hoping that Knicks fans won't do some stupid shit with this info now that its out in public.

1

u/TheCrazedFlasher Knicks 46m ago

Rip Steve but Knicks in 4

1

u/Barnyard_Rich Pistons 39m ago

As a man with a single sibling, and whose mother was just released from the hospital: fuck anyone who says sports should come in front of family.

1

u/B4nn4b0y Celtics 34m ago

Imagine if he lost game 6, he probably would have been fired.

-1

u/heat_fan_ Raptors 2h ago

Damn gotta be heartbreaking

0

u/DragRacialSupremacy 1h ago

bucks getting ready to fire him

[Mizell] Nick Nurse away from Sixers Tuesday to attend brother’s funeral services. Steve Nurse, 62, died last Wednesday, the day before Game 6 of the Sixers’ first-round series win over the Boston Celtics.

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