Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was away from the team Tuesday ahead of Game 2 of its second-round playoff series against the Knicks to attend the funeral of his brother Steve, the team told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Steve Nurse, 62, died last Wednesday, April 29, the day before the Sixers’ Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics in the first round.
A cause of death was not given, though the Inquirer reported that his passing was unexpected.
Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse coaches against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the eastern conference semifinal round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 4, 2026. Brad Penner-Imagn Images Nick left New York City following his team’s 137-98 Game 1 loss to the Knicks on Monday night to travel to Ankeny, Iowa, for the services.
The coach is expected to rejoin the Sixers for Game 2 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Sixers had a film session at their hotel Tuesday afternoon, but did not practice.
A Carroll, Iowa native, Nick played basketball at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) from 1985-89.
Nick Nurse and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during Game 6 of the Sixers-Celtics first round series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NBAE via Getty Images Steve spent 26 years as an equipment manager for the UNI.
His obituary states that he and his family “were avid NBA fans, most recently of the Philadelphia 76ers. They attended many games in person across the country and rarely missed broadcasts,” per the Inquirer.
“I’d like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother’s family and all their friends,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said at the team’s training center in Greenburgh.
“Life is precious and you don’t wish that upon anybody, so I’d like to pass along my condolences to him and his family while they’re going through these times.”
The 76ers look to avoid falling into a 2-0 series hole Wednesday before the second-round series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
