Casey happy for 'thrilling' Raptors title win
The Toronto Raptors secured their first championship in franchise history just one year removed from parting ways with head coach Dwane Casey in favor of his former assistant, Nick Nurse.
While some may assume the former Coach of the Year would be frustrated to see the team achieve such success upon his departure, Casey holds no ill will toward the organization and admits it was a special moment to see some of his former players hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
"It was exciting. It was good to see," said Casey, according to The Associated Press. "To see a guy like Kyle Lowry, kid like Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and those guys - Serge Ibaka, guys I coached - win. It was really thrilling, because I know that was a goal going in with that group, and to see them win it was great."
Casey spent seven seasons with the Raptors and coached them to a franchise-record 59 wins in 2017-18.
"For that city to win a championship, it had to be thrilling for them," he added.
The 62-year-old became the head coach of the Pistons shortly after getting fired and went 41-41 in his debut season in Detroit.