Austin Reaves will no doubt remember this passage… While he tried to follow Devin Booker without the ball, the Lakers player fell on a wall : Jusuf Nurkic. “ It wasn't a pressed screen, I'm like that. They can go under… “, defends the Suns pivot who put his opponent on the ground, stunned.
As he says, screen installation is a big part of his job in Phoenix. “ His screen pose was something huge. It's selflessness, starting to do something for your teammates, taking shots and the ball came back to him in the post “, note his coach Mike Budenholzer.
Because his interior was not content to play useful against Anthony Davis and his gang. In the third quarter, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the others read well the situations where Jusuf Nurkic could take advantage of a size advantage.
Served several times against a lighter Rui Hachimura, the 30-year-old enjoyed the position. By scoring 10 of his 12 points (5/11 on shots), including a 3-point basket in the corner left open by the Lakers, he launched his team perfectly in a third quarter which would leave their opponents far behind .
A presence on the rebound (12 catches), a recovery pass for the counter-attack (3 in total), an interception, a counter… For Devin Bookerit was “ one of his best matches of the season this year. We rallied around him. He punished the smaller defender every time », notes the rear.
An impossible “KD-style” role
“ They changed a lot in defense. He was much more patient. He didn't rush his shots, his movements and he pressed everyone under the circle. When he does that, they have to adapt defensively to how they want to take him and the players they use. It's an added layer of versatility for us », Also appreciates Bradley Beal.
Author of his 6th double-double of the season, the second in a row, the Bosnian pivot produced a benchmark match after several less good weeks, marked by discomfort in his ankle. Even less mobilized in the Suns' game compared to last year, he reminds everyone that he can be a sure bet at the finish, like in Portland, when he is mobilized underneath. Even if his address is weak so far (41%).
“ Everyone wishes I had a role in KD (Kevin Durant) but with two shots, it doesn't work like that “, he summarizesbefore adding: “ I feel like I'm being judged most of the time since I've been here. I try to play despite that, despite the injuries and everything else. I don't really intend to try to prove anything. I know what I bring to the team, to the table. »
The fans who would attack him? “ They're not real fans. If you go to Phoenix, you'll see the real fans. The Internet is not the real world. »
| Jusuf Nurkic | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | DEN | 62 | 18 | 44.6 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 2.0 | 4.1 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 6.9 |
| 2015-16 | DEN | 32 | 17 | 41.7 | 0.0 | 61.6 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 8.2 |
| 2016-17 * | All Teams | 65 | 21 | 50.7 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 10.2 |
| 2016-17 * | DEN | 45 | 18 | 50.7 | 0.0 | 49.6 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 8.0 |
| 2016-17 * | POR | 20 | 29 | 50.8 | 0.0 | 66.0 | 3.2 | 7.1 | 10.3 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 15.2 |
| 2017-18 | POR | 79 | 26 | 50.5 | 0.0 | 63.0 | 2.4 | 6.6 | 9.0 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 14.3 |
| 2018-19 | POR | 72 | 27 | 50.8 | 10.3 | 77.3 | 3.4 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 15.6 |
| 2019-20 | POR | 8 | 32 | 49.5 | 20.0 | 88.6 | 2.9 | 7.4 | 10.2 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | POR | 37 | 24 | 51.4 | 40.0 | 61.9 | 2.3 | 6.6 | 9.0 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 11.5 |
| 2021-22 | POR | 56 | 28 | 53.5 | 26.8 | 69.0 | 3.0 | 8.1 | 11.1 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 15.0 |
| 2022-23 | POR | 52 | 27 | 51.9 | 36.1 | 66.1 | 2.2 | 6.9 | 9.1 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 13.3 |
| 2023-24 | PHX | 76 | 27 | 51.0 | 24.4 | 64.0 | 2.9 | 8.1 | 11.0 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 10.9 |
| 2024-25 | PHX | 15 | 25 | 40.9 | 29.8 | 66.0 | 1.9 | 8.3 | 10.1 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 9.1 |
| Total | 554 | 25 | 50.1 | 28.2 | 66.7 | 2.6 | 6.4 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 12.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
