Jordi Fernandez replaces Nick Nurse as Canada men’s coach

TORONTO –

Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jordi Fernandez replaces former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse as head coach of Canada’s men’s basketball team, Canada Basketball announced Wednesday.

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

Nurse says he had to leave the national team to devote his time and energy to the 76ers.

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

Internationally, Fernandez was the main assistant for the Nigerian men’s national team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Fernandez will lead Canada to the World Cup this summer and is also expected to stay in place if Canada qualifies for next year’s Olympics in Paris.