Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic had his best game of the short regular season thus far over the weekend in a 114-102 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The former Trail Blazer made such an improvement that it caused his head coach to direct some high compliments his way following the game. Nurkic’s impact on this season will significantly affect how far Phoenix goes this year. Here’s hoping his production against Dallas wasn’t a one-game stint.
Suns HC Mike Budenholzer Praises Jusuf Nurkic’s Impact
Phoenix Suns HC Mike Budenholzer Praises Nurkic’s Impact
There’s no denying that Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are the perennial combined driving force of the Phoenix Suns. However, those two superstar Olympians, or even Bradley Beal, may not be the sole determining variable for a successful NBA season in the Arizona desert. Nurkic isn’t considered a tier-one center in the league, perhaps not even tier-two or three. Yet, he is formidable, physical, and solid against most other big men across the NBA. His offensive game will not always impress, although he can put up points when he’s really on his game. It’s the other end, though, where Nurkic’s impact might be felt the most this season.
Nurkic came into Saturday’s game against Dallas following a slow start in the Suns’ first two games. His performance against the Mavericks was quite different, so much so that Phoenix Suns HC Mike Budenholzer took to the podium post-game to praise his center for a physical and impactful game.
“He was great,” Budenholzer said. “His physicality in the paint, his rebounding, defense, everything. So it was good, I think. He’s a great teammate, he’s a competitor. I think he wanted to come back tonight and have that kind of positive impact for us, and he did it in a big way.”
One element of Nurkic’s game that one cannot protest is his physicality. He plays hard and physically, no matter who he’s matched against (Draymond Green isn’t a fan, though). As the Suns premier center and paint defender, his physicality is needed night in and night out.
Phoenix’s X-Factor?
Again, a team that enlists the likes of Durant, Booker, and Beal (when healthy), it’s hard to imagine another integral part of the puzzle. That being said, last season was rather disappointing when it was all said and done with those three guys alongside Nurkic. Adding Tyus Jones into the mix helped the Suns’ point guard situation in a big way this summer. However, it’s not entirely out in left field to name Nurkic as the team’s x-factor this season.
He is already an elite screen-setter and rebounder, even going back to his days in Portland. On the defensive end, Nurkic has to improve and maintain consistency. Otherwise, his shortcomings will lead to his substitution out of the game in the name of a smaller lineup. Against Dallas, he improved, so Budenholzer’s comments were justified. However, Nurkic’s performance on Saturday needs to carry over to a matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday and beyond. Nurkic also knows this.
“I gotta be better,” Nurkic said. “I have all the support I need from coaches and the organization. Just trying to fit in. Didn’t play as many games as I wish in preseason, but it’s not perfect. I feel like sometimes I’m just not aggressive as I should [be] and overpassing and try to fit in in the system. But it’s no excuse, man. I gotta be better, and I think that’s a good step tonight.”
