Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkić (/juːsəf ˈnɜːrkɪtʃ/; born August 23, 1994) is a Bosnian professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) tall and weighing 290 lb (132 kg) the center was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He also represents the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team internationally.

Jusuf Nurkic
Nurkic with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019
No. 27 – Portland Trail Blazers
PositionCenter
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1994-08-23) August 23, 1994
Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
NationalityBosnian
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2014Cedevita
2013→Zadar
2014–2017Denver Nuggets
2017–presentPortland Trail Blazers
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Early career

Born in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nurkić began playing basketball at 14 years of age, after Bosnian sports agent Enes Trnovčević took him to Slovenia and gave him an opportunity to play.[1] He played in the youth categories for Slovenian team Zlatorog Laško.[2] In February 2012, he was briefly loaned to Union Olimpija in order to play the Nike International Junior Tournament which was held in Belgrade. Nurkić attracted attention internationally by averaging 18.8 points and 11 rebounds over 5 games.[2][3] Shortly after the tournament, he parted ways with Zlatorog Laško.[4] Just days after, it was revealed that Nurkić was training with Croatian team Cedevita.[5]

Professional career

Cedevita Zagreb (2012–2014)

In October 2012, after a few months of training with Croatian team Cedevita, Nurkić signed a contract with Cedevita Zagreb.[6][7] In his first season with Cedevita, he had a small role in the team under head coach Aleksandar Petrović, mostly playing in garbage time. In the Euroleague, he played only 6 games, averaging 1.8 points per game. In January 2013, Nurkić was loaned to Zadar until the end of the season on his initiative, hoping to play more minutes.[8] In his second season, under new head coach Jasmin Repeša, he had breakthroughs in the regional Adriatic League, averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, for only 16.3 minutes spent in the court. This was attributed mainly to foul troubles and conditioning issues.[9]

In 2014, Nurkić was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year Award.[10]

Denver Nuggets (2014–2017)

On 26 June 2014, Nurkić was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He was later traded to the Denver Nuggets on draft night.[11] On 31 July 2014, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Nuggets.[12] On 29 October 2014, he made his NBA debut, recording 5 points and 7 rebounds in an 89–79 win over the Detroit Pistons.[13] On 1 January 2015, he recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the Chicago Bulls.[14] Two days later, he recorded his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to go with 5 blocks in a 114–85 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.[15] He went on to record two more double-doubles in February.[13] Nurkić was named a participant in the 2015 Rising Stars Challenge as a replacement for Steven Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, but declined to play in the event for personal reasons.[16] In the Nuggets' final game of the season on 15 April, he scored a season-high 17 points in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.[13] On 20 May, he underwent successful surgery to repair a partially torn left patellar tendon.[17]

On 11 October 2015, the Nuggets exercised their third-year team option on Nurkić's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2016–17 season.[18] He made his 2015–16 season debut on 2 January against the Golden State Warriors, having been inactive for the first two months of the season due to recovering from his torn left patellar tendon.[19] Four days later, he recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 78–74 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.[20] On 12 March, he scored a season-high 17 points in a 116–100 win over the Washington Wizards.[21] He topped that mark twice in late March, scoring 18 points against the Los Angeles Lakers on 25 March,[22] and 19 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on 27 March.[23] On 8 April, he scored a career-high 21 points in a 102–98 win over the San Antonio Spurs.[24]

In the Nuggets' 2016–17 season opener on 26 October 2016, Nurkić set a new career high with 23 points in a 107–102 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[25] Five days later, he grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in a 105–102 loss to the Toronto Raptors.[26] After Nikola Jokić emerged as Denver's starting center, Nurkić was demoted to the bench.[27] The demotion to the bench didn't sit well with Nurkić, and he wasn't afraid to voice his displeasure with the situation, requesting to be traded twice, first in April 2016 and then again in December 2016.[28] The Nuggets eventually granted Nurkić his wish ten days before the 2017 trade deadline.[29]

Portland Trail Blazers (2017–present)

On 13 February 2017, Nurkić was traded, along with the rights to the Memphis Grizzlies' 2017 first round draft pick, to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Mason Plumlee, a 2018 second round pick and cash considerations.[30] He made his debut for the Trail Blazers two days later, recording 13 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench in a 111–88 loss to the Utah Jazz.[31] He made his first start for the Trail Blazers in the following game on 23 February 2017, recording 12 points and 12 rebounds in a 112–103 win over the Orlando Magic.[32] On 2 March 2017, he had 18 points, 12 rebounds, a career-high six assists and five blocks in a 114–109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.[33] On 9 March 2017, he had a career-high 28 points and 20 rebounds in a 114–108 overtime win over the Philadelphia 76ers. He also had eight assists and six blocks, becoming the first NBA player to post at least 28 points, 20 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 blocks in a game since Charles Barkley pulled the feat in November 1986.[34] On 28 March 2017, he set a new career high with 33 points to go with 16 rebounds in a 122–113 win over his former team, the Denver Nuggets.[35] Three days later, he was ruled out for the rest of the regular season with a non-displaced fracture in his right leg.[36]

On 22 April 2017, Nurkić returned to action in Game 3 of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, after having missed the final seven games of the regular season and the first two playoff games at Golden State. He finished with two points and 11 rebounds, as the Trail Blazers went down 3–0 in the series with a 119–113 loss.[37] He went on to miss Game 4 of the series, as the Trail Blazers bowed out of the playoffs with a 4–0 series loss to the Warriors.[38]

On 24 November 2017, Nurkić recorded 29 points and 15 rebounds in a 127–125 win over the Brooklyn Nets.[39] On 18 January 2018, he had 19 points and a season-high 17 rebounds in a 100–86 win over the Indiana Pacers.[40] On 9 April 2018, he had 20 points and 19 rebounds in an 88–82 loss to the Nuggets.[41] In Game 4 of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, Nurkić recorded 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 131–123 loss. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, as they lost the series in a four-game sweep.[42]

On 6 July 2018, Nurkić re-signed with the Trail Blazers.[43] On 22 October 2018, he recorded 22 points and 18 rebounds in a 125–124 overtime loss to the Washington Wizards.[44] On 18 November 2018, he had 13 points, 14 rebounds and matched his career high with eight assists in a 119–109 win over the Wizards.[45] Two days later, he had 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 118–114 win over the New York Knicks, thus recording his career-best fifth straight double-double.[46] On 27 December, he had 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 110–109 overtime win over the Warriors.[47] On 1 January 2019, he had 24 points and a career-high 23 rebounds to go with seven assists, five blocks and five steals in a 113–108 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings, becoming the only player to post such a stat line in NBA history.[48][49] On 11 January, he had 11 points, 11 rebounds and tied career highs with eight assists and six blocks in a 127–96 win over the Charlotte Hornets, becoming the third player in NBA history to record such a stat line in fewer than 30 minutes.[50] On 16 January, he recorded his first career triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 129–112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.[51]

On 25 March 2019, Nurkić suffered a compound fracture of his left tibia and fibula in the second overtime of the Trail Blazers' 148–144 win over the Brooklyn Nets. According to a team press release he has no expected return date.[52] Nurkić made 32 points and 16 rebounds before the injury.[53]

He was expected to return Sunday, March 15, 2020. However with the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, he did not make his return until Friday, July 31, 2020, in a 140–135 overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies.

National team career

Playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nurkić was named MVP of the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B held in 2012, where he averaged 19.4 points and 13.3 rebounds per game.[54] He was also MVP of the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B, held in 2014, where he averaged 21.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.[55] He played a minor role in the senior team of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIBA EuroBasket 2013 qualification,[56] but did not make the squad for the final tournament due to the conflict with the board of Bosnian National Basketball Association.[57] Nurkić represented the senior Bosnia and Herzegovina national basketball team during Eurobasket 2017 qualification. He averaged 19.2 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  PIR  Performance Index Rating
 Bold  Career high

Note: The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in domestic competition, and regional competition if applicable.

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15 Denver 622717.8.446.000.6366.2.8.81.16.9
2015–16 Denver 32317.1.417.000.6165.51.3.81.48.2
2016–17 Denver 452917.9.507.000.4965.81.3.6.88.0
2016–17 Portland 201929.2.508.000.66010.43.21.31.915.2
2017–18 Portland 797926.4.505.000.6309.01.8.81.414.3
2018–19 Portland 727227.3.508.103.77310.43.21.01.415.6
2019–20 Portland 8831.6.495.200.88610.34.01.42.017.6
Career 31823723.1.492.096.6738.12.0.91.311.8

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2017 Portland 1117.0.333.000.00011.04.0.01.02.0
2018 Portland 4423.5.487.000.8188.01.01.51.311.8
2020 Portland 5532.2.439.273.78310.43.61.4.214.2
Career 101027.2.455.250.7949.52.61.3.712.0

Euroleague
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2012–13 Cedevita 603.7.6251.000.000.7.0.2.51.82.0
Career 603.7.6251.000.000.7.0.2.51.82.0

Domestic leagues
Season Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2012–13Cedevita ZagrebAdriatic League56.8.750.000.5001.0.2.0.02.6
KK Zadar96.6.579.000.6002.0.6.3.44.1
Croatia A-1 Liga1913.3.495.000.6914.4.5.8.98.1
2013–14Cedevita ZagrebAdriatic League2816.6.560.143.7015.7.71.1.811.7
Croatia A-1 Liga1516.5.551.000.6145.31.0.71.211.5


Personal life

Nurkić's father, Hariz, is a police officer in Bosnia and Herzegovina and according to Denver Nuggets' broadcasters, he stands 7 feet (2.13 m) tall and weighs over 400 pounds (181 kg).[1]

See also

References
  1. Rosenthal, Seth (January 14, 2015). "Nuggets rookie Jusuf Nurkic's dad is a 7', 400-pound cop". SBNation.com. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  2. Petrinović, Igor. "Jusuf Nurkic, Cedevita Zagreb". eurocupbasketball.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  3. "Nurkic Jusuf stats NIJT". euroleague.net. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  4. Perko, Darko. "Nadarjeni Jusuf Nurkić zapušča vrste Zlatoroga; kam odhaja, še ni znano". kosarka.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  5. "V Laškem suspendirani Jusuf Nurkić se seli v Cedevito". kosarka.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  6. Vrbanić, Tomislav. "Jusuf Nurkić i službeno u Cedeviti". crosarka.com (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  7. "Nurkiću se ostvaruju snovi". balkans.aljazeera.net (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  8. Jurišić, Bernard. "hrsport.net". Jusuf Nurkić na posudbi u Zadru, traži se Travis (in Croatian). Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  9. Schmitz, Mike. "Nurkic Making Noise in the Adriatic League". draftexpress.com. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  10. "Antetokounmpo, Nurkic, Saric up for FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year". thescore.com. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  11. Nuggets get Gary Harris, Jusuf Nurkic in first round of 2014 NBA Draft
  12. "Denver Nuggets Sign First-Round Picks Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris". NBA.com. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  13. Jusuf Nurkic 2014-15 Game Log
  14. Derrick Rose's strong finish powers Bulls by Nuggets
  15. Nuggets rout travel-weary Grizzlies 114-85
  16. Nuggets' Jusuf Nurkic opts out of Rising Stars Challenge
  17. "Jusuf Nurkic Undergoes Successful Surgery". NBA.com. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  18. "Nuggets Exercise Options on Harris and Nurkić". NBA.com. 11 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  19. "Warriors hold off Nuggets; Faried taken off on stretcher". NBA.com. 2 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  20. "Gallinari, Nuggets snap 6-game skid with win over Wolves". NBA.com. 6 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  21. "Nurkic's 17 points rally Nuggets over Wizards, 116-100". NBA.com. 12 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
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  24. "Tim Duncan, depleted Spurs fall to Nuggets 102-98". NBA.com. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  25. Ping-Quon Wittmeyer, Alicia (26 October 2016). "Denver Nuggets outlast New Orleans Pelicans in season opener". DenverPost.com. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
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  27. "Jusuf Nurkic on requesting trade from Nuggets: 'It just came to the point where I needed to go'". Sporting News. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  28. "Jusuf Nurkic: The uncompromising Bosnian beast". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  29. "Report: Nuggets trade Nurkic to Blazers for Plumlee". Denver Stiffs. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  30. "TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE JUSUF NURKIĆ, 2017 FIRST ROUND PICK FROM DENVER". NBA.com. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  31. "Hayward scores 22 as Jazz beat Trail Blazers 111-88". ESPN.com. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  32. "Lillard rallies Trail Blazers to 112-103 win over Orlando". ESPN.com. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  33. "Lillard scores 33 as Trail Blazers beat Thunder 114-109". ESPN.com. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  34. "Josef [sic] Nurkic propels Blazers to win with 28 points, 20 rebounds". ESPN.com. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  35. "Blazers beat Nuggets to take 1-game lead for 8th seed". ESPN.com. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  36. Wojnarowski, Adrian (31 March 2017). "Sources: Jusuf Nurkic could return for possible playoff berth after suffering non-displaced leg fracture". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  37. "Warriors take 3-0 series lead over Blazers with 119-113 win". ESPN.com. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  38. "Warriors move on with a sweep of the Trail Blazers". ESPN.com. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  39. "Lillard and Nurkic lift Trail Blazers over Nets 127-125". ESPN.com. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  40. "Lillard leads Trail Blazers past Pacers 100-86". ESPN.com. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
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  42. "Davis' 47 points leads Pelicans to sweep of Trail Blazers". ESPN.com. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  43. "TRAIL BLAZERS RE-SIGN JUSUF NURKIĆ". NBA.com. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
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  46. "McCollum, Lillard help Blazers edge Knicks 118-114". ESPN.com. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  47. "Lillard's 3-pointer in OT lifts Blazers over Warriors". ESPN.com. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  48. "Lillard rallies Trail Blazers in OT to beat Kings 113-108". ESPN.com. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  49. Ward, Adam (1 January 2019). "NURKIĆ HAS CAREER GAME IN DRAMATIC NEW YEAR'S DAY WIN IN SACRAMENTO". NBA.com. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  50. "McCollum helps Trail Blazers rout Hornets 127-96". ESPN.com. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  51. "Nurkic has triple-double and Blazers beat Cavaliers 129-112". ESPN.com. 16 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  52. "Jusuf Nurkić suffers season-ending leg injury". NBA.com. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  53. "Blazers lose Nurkic to severe leg injury, edge Nets in 2 OTs". ESPN.com. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  54. MVP NURKIC LEADS ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
  55. Jusuf Nurkic named MVP after leading Bosnia to U20 title
  56. JUSUF NURKIC (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA) Archived 2014-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
  57. "Nurkić: Ja ću igrati za BiH, ali ne želim viđati one koji su lagali". vijesti.ba (in Croatian). November 29, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
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