Jusuf Nurkic Vows to Limit Fouls and Help Suns with Consistent Play
The Phoenix Suns have been looking for a reliable center to bring toughness and consistency to their interior defense. In Jusuf Nurkic, they may have found the answer. The 25-year-old Bosnian center is a key part of the Suns’ rotation and has been a good fit for the team.
Nurkic is an interesting player. He’s a big, physical center who brings a lot of energy and effort to the court. He’s averaged 12.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game in his Suns tenure so far this season, and his presence makes the Suns much tougher in the paint.
The only issue with Nurkic is his tendency to commit fouls. He’s averaging 3.3 fouls per game, which is a bit high for a starting center. He’s already fouled out of four games in the season’s first two months.
But Nurkic is aware of his shortcomings and is determined to make changes. He recently said, “I need to stay on the floor more consistently and help my team. The fouls hurt my team and I need to be more disciplined.”
It’s encouraging to see Nurkic taking responsibility for his mistakes. He’s an emotional player, but he’s doing a better job this season of controlling his emotions and staying out of foul trouble. He’s also doing a good job of reading the game and understanding when to make a play and when to stay in the paint.
Nurkic’s defensive ability is undoubtedly a boost for the Suns. He’s a good rebounder and shot blocker, and he’s also a great help defender. He’s particularly adept at defending pick and rolls, an area where the Suns have struggled this season.
Offensively, Nurkic is a reliable scorer in the post. He’s averaging 1.08 points per possession on post-ups, according to Synergy Sports. He’s also a good passer out of the post, as his 1.16 assists per possession show.
Nurkic’s also a capable mid-range shooter. He’s shooting 40 percent on mid-range shots this season, which is a career-high for him. He’s also improved his free-throw shooting, shooting 83 percent from the line in 2020-21.
The Suns need Nurkic to stay on the floor more consistently to maximize his impact. He needs to limit his fouls and understand when to make a play and when to stay in the paint. So far this season, he’s been doing a good job of controlling his emotions and staying out of foul trouble.
If Nurkic can stay on the floor more consistently and continue to improve his game, the Suns could be a real force in the Western Conference. Nurkic is an important piece of the Suns’ puzzle and his presence in the paint will be a huge boost to the team’s title hopes.