The story between Toronto and Nick Nurse had started beautifully, with the first title in the history of the franchise at stake in 2019. It ended less well, however, following a premature elimination at the gates of the playoffs and an eviction with the taste of unfinished. For chris butcher also, his collaboration with his ex-coach ended badly, the interior having in particular pointed the finger at the management of the substitutes, believing that Nick Nurse had not managed to get the best out of it.
A new page will now be written with the arrival of Darko Rajakovic, and the least we can say is that the Canadian interior is fired up at the idea of confronting new methods of management, while the coach has already made contact with the players of his new team.
“He really is a special trainer. It will no doubt change a lot of things, and it seems like it was something we needed,” did he declare on the sidelines of a “Basketball Without Borders” course organized in Quebec this weekend alongside Luguentz Dort and Bennedict Mathurin. “He really focuses on the players and making sure everything is going well for us. The first thing he said, and he said it every day I saw him, was that it’s not about him, it’s about us players. And I think that’s something that will really help us improve. He seems ready to give players who give their all a chance, and I think that’s something important for a manager who is in his first year.
Chris Boucher will know his third coach
At the end of the camp, Chris Boucher plans to quickly resume his training routine with the determination to do the maximum to have his place next year in the rotation of his new coach, a new challenge which comes with a little apprehensive.
“Obviously every time there is a coaching change I think nobody knows what to expect and everyone wants to show up,” did he declare. “I’ve been here five years, and I’ve been to all the training camps and everything. I think everyone is excited to see what will change. I think everyone is eager to see what will change. It’s always something that makes you enthusiastic”.
| chris butcher | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 28 | 6 | 44.7 | 32.4 | 86.7 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 3.3 |
| 2019-20 | TOR | 62 | 13 | 47.2 | 32.2 | 78.4 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 6.6 |
| 2020-21 | TOR | 60 | 24 | 51.4 | 38.3 | 78.8 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 13.6 |
| 2021-22 | TOR | 80 | 21 | 46.4 | 29.7 | 77.7 | 2.2 | 3.9 | 6.2 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 9.4 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 76 | 20 | 49.3 | 32.8 | 76.2 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 9.4 |
| Total | 307 | 18 | 48.6 | 33.4 | 78.0 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 9.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
