Press Releases

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The National Basketball Association announced Tuesday that forward O.G. Anunoby has been named to the 2022-23 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. This marks Anunoby’s first All-Defensive Team selection, and he becomes just the second player in franchise history to earn the honour, joining Kawhi Leonard who was also voted to the second team in 2018-19.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anunoby averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and career highs in both steals (1.91) and blocks (0.75), in 67 games this season. He led the NBA in steals per game and total steals (128), becoming the first Raptor to achieve either feat. Anunoby joined Marcus Camby (blocks per game in 1997-98) as the only players in Raptors history to lead the NBA in a major-five category - points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A native of Jefferson City, Missouri, Anunoby was one of just two players in the NBA to tally 120+ steals and 50+ blocks this season, along with Anthony Edwards, and ranked third in the league with 241 total deflections. He recorded five or more steals five times, including three straight games early in the season (Oct. 31 - Nov. 4), becoming the first player since Russell Westbrook in 2018 – and first Raptor – to achieve such a streak.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Anunoby helped Toronto lead the NBA in steals per game (9.4) last season and set a single-season franchise record with 772 total steals.

Joining Anunoby on the NBA All-Defensive Second Team are Bam Adebayo (Miami), Draymond Green (Golden State), Dillon Brooks (Memphis) and Derrick White (Boston).&nbsp;&nbsp;

The NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.&nbsp;Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote.&nbsp;Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position at which they received the most voting points.

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ANUNOBY NAMED TO NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM

&nbsp;Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri announced Friday that Nick Nurse has been relieved of his duties as the team’s head coach.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“The decision to make a change like this is never arrived at easily or taken lightly, especially when it comes to a person who has been an integral part of this franchise’s most historic accomplishments, and who has been a steady leader through some of our team’s most challenging times. As we reflect on Nick’s many successes, we thank him and his family, and wish them the best in future,” Ujiri said.&nbsp;

“This is an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.”

Nurse joined the Raptors organization in 2013 as an assistant coach before being named the ninth head coach in team history in June 2018. That first season, he guided Toronto to 58 wins, one shy of the franchise record, and became the ninth rookie head coach in NBA history to win the championship in their first year.&nbsp;

The following season, Nurse and his staff represented Toronto at the 2020 NBA All-Star Game in Chicago and finished the year with 53 victories. For his efforts, Nurse was named NBA Coach of the Year, an award presented to him while in the NBA’s “Bubble” in Orlando.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In five seasons (2018-23) at the helm of the Raptors, Nurse had the best winning percentage in team history with a 227-163 (.582) record,&nbsp;made three playoff appearances, winning two Atlantic Division and one Eastern Conference title, and the 2019 NBA Championship.

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NICK NURSE RELIEVED OF HEAD COACHING DUTIES

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Head Coach Nick Nurse speaks with the media following Tuesday's practice.

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Raptors Practice: Nick Nurse - March 21, 2023

Precious Achiuwa speaks with the media following Tuesday's practice.

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Raptors Practice: Precious Achiuwa - March 21, 2023

Fred VanVleet speaks with the media following Tuesday's practice.

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Raptors Practice: Fred VanVleet - March 21, 2023

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed guard Will Barton. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In a corresponding move, the Raptors have waived forward Juancho Hernangόmez (hair-NAHN-gomez).

Barton, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, averaged 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 19.6 minutes in 40 games with Washington this season. He shot .387 (110-284) from the field, including 38 percent (52-137) from beyond the arc, and scored in double figures 11 times. Barton was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Barton was picked 40th overall by Portland in the 2012 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 25.5 minutes in 663 games (284 starts) with Portland, Denver and Washington. Barton played collegiately at Memphis (2010-12) where he was the Conference USA Player of the Year as a sophomore.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hernangόmez averaged 2.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 14.6 minutes in 42 games (10 starts) with the Raptors this season after signing as a free agent in July 2022.

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RAPTORS SIGN BARTON

Pascal Siakam speaks with the media following the Raptors 95-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

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Raptors Post Game: Pascal Siakam - February 25, 2023

Head Coach Nick Nurse speaks with the media following the Raptors 95-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.