Carroll National Golf Club in western Iowa will forever be etched in NBA history after it became the unlikely setting for a pivotal moment in the summer’s most intense free agency saga: LeBron James reportedly made the call from that very course that potentially sealed his signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Unexpected Golf Course Confab That Hooked The King
Brendan Quinn of The Athletic dropped the bombshell, revealing how 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, a Carroll native, found himself on the greens for an extra round of golf. He was out there playing in a charity tournament honoring his late brother, Steve, when his phone rang. And who was on the other end? None other than LeBron James, the 22-time All-Star and newly available free agent, looking to join a new squad.
Nurse, in true dedicated coach fashion, apparently walked right off the green, down a little hill, and straight to his golf cart to take the call. He reportedly told James he was “definitely free to chat.” And James? He had questions. A lot of questions. He told Nurse he was doing his “due diligence,” asking about offensive and defensive roles, team schemes, and exactly how “the greatest player of this generation” might fit into Nurse’s plans. Quinn’s report suggests that whatever Nurse told LeBron, it “ultimately helped.”
The Birthday Announcement And The Disputed Clubhouse Confession
Just two weeks after that fateful golf course conversation, on July 24, which also happened to be Nurse’s 59th birthday, James made it official. He announced on social media that he was signing with Philadelphia, sending shockwaves across the league. A Carroll resident who Quinn spoke to claimed Nurse walked into the clubhouse afterward, exclaiming something like, “You’ll never believe who I just got off the phone with.” But Nurse himself disputes that version of events. “I kept that to myself,” Nurse reportedly told Quinn. “If anybody back there is embellishing that, that would not be accurate.”
This isn’t just any golf course, either. Nurse actually bought his hometown course back in February 2024, renaming the historic Carroll Country Club, which had been open since 1922, to Carroll National Golf Club. He wanted to ditch those “perceived country club vibes.” Nurse grew up playing there with his eight older siblings and his dad, spending all day on the greens, having barbecues, swimming, and watching fireworks. The place clearly means a lot to him, and he’s been pouring back into it with renovations to the clubhouse bar and an annual multiday golf-and-music festival.
Nurse’s Rise To The Top, From Iowa To NBA Champ
Nurse’s journey to coaching one of the biggest stars in the NBA is a story in itself. He’s already taken the 76ers to the playoffs twice in his three seasons coaching the team, starting in 2023-24. Before Philadelphia, he kicked off his NBA head coaching career with the Toronto Raptors in 2018-19, after serving five years as an assistant. In his very first season with the Raptors, he led them to their first NBA title. This Iowa native, who played basketball at Northern Iowa, truly worked his way up through the coaching ranks across the United States and Europe before hitting the big time. It just goes to show, you never know who’s going to call, or where they’ll call you from, when you’re making history.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply