Forget about it, Fongs. And Gusto and Bordenaro’s? You never stood a chance.

When the coach of the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors lands in Des Moines on a visit back to Iowa, his must-go place for pizza? Godfather’s.

“When I land at Des Moines International Airport, I go straight to the Godfather’s Pizza,” Nurse said during the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s annual meeting on Jan. 14, where he was the keynote speaker. “Sorry, I really miss Godfather’s Pizza. That’s absolutely No. 1, and then I usually head to Carroll to do a few local things there, but Godfather’s, I miss it.”

Nurse, a Carroll native, participated in the virtual meeting and was interviewed by WHO-TV’s Jodi Long.

Nurse talked about his coaching career, which included leading the Iowa Energy to a 2011 NBA D-League title, and stints in leagues overseas, primarily in England — a career he outlines in his new book “Rapture.”

After dishing out some advice to business owners about how winning is a mindset and how not to dwell on the big wins but instead focus on the daily task at hand, Nurse also revealed that he is an aspiring jazz musician.

He said “my people” pack a keyboard with his other things on road trips with the team.

“It’s a good stress reliever for me in between watching all that game film and worrying about the next opponent, and I really hope and I believe it brings out some creative energies in me and ideas that help me in my job,” he said. “I really enjoy it. I’m getting a little better as I go. As they say, practice makes perfect, but I really, really love it.”

Nurse said he started taking guitar lessons about 18 months ago, and brings a guitar with him, too, when he’s on the road.

The interest in music started when he was a child and his mother had him take piano lessons for about three years. Sports took over, though, and music was put on hold, he said.

One of his inspirations is jazz musician Thelonius Monk. A painting of the musician was on display on the wall over his shoulder during the conversation.

“I’m trying really hard to play a few of his pieces, and man, are they challenging,” Nurse said.

Other musical influences were Prince, whom Nurse said he saw in concert during the Purple Rain tour in Minneapolis in 1984, and Earth, Wind and Fire, whose music his older brothers played in the basement of their family home growing up.

His interest in music is woven into the work of his foundation, which carries his name.

“It’s three strands that we are trying to help kids with,” he said. “It’s reading, music and sports.”

Grants and donations have been going to music departments to help buy instruments for kids, buy books and help kids participate in sports by buying equipment and uniforms.

“Whatever we can do to uplift their self-image and give them a chance to grow in one of those three strands,” Nurse said.

But no matter where he goes or what he does, Godfather’s Pizza isn’t far from his heart.

“It’s pretty much Godfather’s or bust for me,” he said with a laugh.