The physical problems and the long absences of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have allowed Anfernee Simons to explode for almost three weeks. But if the Blazers have managed to win four of their last five games, it is also thanks to the performances of Jusuf Nurkic.
The interior of the Blazers is indeed running at 16.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2 steals on average for ten days. He even comes out of a very big game with 21 points and 22 rebounds against Orlando.
“I think I’m having one of the best seasons of my career”, does he even analyze for The Oregonian. “With everything that’s happened, the injuries, the Covid-19, no matter how you look at the season, in terms of shooting percentage for example, it’s one of my best in Portland. “
Statistically, the Bosnian is not wrong. With 13.9 points at 54% shooting success and 10.6 rebounds on average this season, he has never been so accurate in shooting and he has never swallowed so many rebounds under the colors of the Oregon franchise. Above all, he chained matches, which had not really been the case for two years, with only 45 games played in total between 2019 and 2021.
In addition, Chauncey Billups wanted to lean on him more, compared to Terry Stotts, and since Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were often absent, the former Denver interior took advantage of these moments to touch the ball more. Anfernee Simons notably quickly found a connection with him, on the pick-and-roll.
“You can see that his confidence is increasing,” advances the coach of the Blazers, speaking of Jusuf Nurkic. “What I like the most about him is when he goes to the rebound, gets the ball and finds a way to score. I like his efforts, the enthusiasm with which he plays. Whether he touches the ball or not, it doesn’t change anything, he always has the same approach and makes the same efforts, night after night. “
| Jusuf Nurkic | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2014-15 | DEN | 62 | 18 | 44.6 | 0.0 | 63.6 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 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 | 1.3 | 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* | ORP | 20 | 29 | 50.8 | 0.0 | 66.0 | 3.3 | 7.1 | 10.4 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 15.2 |
| 2017-18 | ORP | 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 | ORP | 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 | ORP | 8 | 32 | 49.5 | 20.0 | 88.6 | 2.9 | 7.4 | 10.3 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 17.6 |
| 2020-21 | ORP | 37 | 24 | 51.4 | 40.0 | 61.9 | 2.3 | 6.7 | 9.0 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 11.5 |
| 2021-22 | ORP | 40 | 27 | 53.8 | 19.0 | 70.0 | 2.5 | 8.1 | 10.6 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 13.9 |
| Total | 395 | 24 | 49.8 | 20.2 | 67.2 | 2.5 | 5.9 | 8.4 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 12.0 | |
