Here’s a list of five goals for Jusuf Nurkic as the Portland Trail Blazers look to begin the 2017-18 NBA season.
Jusuf Nurkic has been a welcome addition to the Portland Trail Blazers since being acquired via trade back in February. Playing 20 out of the last 27 games of the season last year, Nurkic averaged 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per game, helping the Blazers go 14-6.
Then he broke his leg.
The Blazers finished the regular season strong, nevertheless. In the last 27 games, Rip City went 18-9, ending the season with a 41-41 overall record. However, the late-season addition of Nurkic and related postseason push ended up pitting Portland in an uphill battle against the Golden State Warriors in the first round, which ended in a sweep by the eventual champions.
Hypothetically, no one is exactly sure whether Nurkic’s presence in the postseason would have made a difference to the outcome, but there’s simply no denying the positive effect Nurkic has had on the team since his arrival. This year, he has the opportunity to right those wrongs and be there for his team when it needs him most.
So without further ado, here are five goals for Jusuf Nurkic in 2017-18.
5. Stay healthy
Jusuf Nurkic hasn’t had the best track record in terms of health. To once again quote Hoops Habit editor-in-chief Gerald Bourguet: “…we can’t gloss over Nurkic missing 20 games, 60 games and then another 17 games through the first three years of his career.”
Considering how much the Portland Trail Blazers improved with him on the floor, everyone is expecting a breakout year for the Bosnian Beast as he prepares to play his first full season with Rip City. While he’s certainly capable of becoming a staple in the Blazers’ system, his success will largely be based on his health rather than his actual skill.
That’s why it’s so good to hear that Nurkic tirelessly worked to lose 35 pounds this summer. By alleviating himself of 10 percent of his body weight from last season, he will hopefully lower the strain on his lower torso, thereby reducing the chances of re-injuring his leg.
4. Average a double-double
Jusuf Nurkic can straight up ball, and he’s likely to continue improving as his career progresses. Now that he’s in a position to play meaningful minutes in a system expected to rely heavily on his abilities, the opportunity to prove himself among the league’s elite big men is there.
The main difference for Nurkic will be his minutes played: for the last two and a half seasons with the Denver Nuggets, Nurkic didn’t average more than 21 minutes per game. Over the course of his 20 games with Portland, he averaged 29.2 minutes.
To paint a clearer picture of what we can expect from Nurkic this year, I give you his career per-36 numbers: 16.0 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals.
If Nurkic can put together a season averaging a double-double, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll earn the respect he’s deserved since his time in the Mile-High City.
3. Win Most Improved Player of the Year Award
As I mentioned prior, Jusuf Nurkic has a prime opportunity to prove himself among the best big men in the league this year as he looks to complete his first full year with the Portland Trail Blazers. Not only is he starting, but he’s guaranteed plenty of minutes should he remain healthy throughout the year.
During his time with the Denver Nuggets, Nurkic averaged 17.9 minutes per game. With the Portland Trail Blazers, that number is expected to double.
Like I stated in my last slide: if he’s able to average a double-double by the end of the season, he’ll go from being known as a relatively good big man to one of the best centers in the NBA. If he’s able to continue improving as a passer and a defender, he’ll be renowned for being an all-around player.
That sounds like the 2017-18 Most Improved Player of the Year to me.
2. Be named an All-Star
Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are certainly All-Star worthy, but it’s highly doubtful either of them get the bid over names like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Klay Thompson or Chris Paul, to name a few.
But as everyone knows, frontcourt players have twice as many chances at earning an All-Star bid than a backcourt player, which puts the odds in the Bosnian Beast’s favor.
Last season, the Western Conference All-Stars’ frontcourt consisted of four centers and four forwards: Anthony Davis, DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Gordon Hayward and Kawhi Leonard.
One of those forwards has gone East, one center is now playing for a different team alongside one of the other centers, and two of those centers are likely to take step back this season. If Nurkic has checked off all the other goals on this list by the time All-Star voting opens, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see his name in contention for the starting lineup.
1. Be named to an All-NBA team
This is a much trickier endeavor than the last four goals, which is why I made this last. Even if Nurkic is able to achieve the other four aforementioned goals, there are only three centers in the entire league that earn All-NBA honors.
That being said, I’m confident Nurkic could be one of those three names by the end of the season if he accomplishes the other four goals — each of which are realistic possibilities. Although it’s unlikely Nurkic beats out a guy like Anthony Davis, the idea of Nurkic putting up better numbers than Rudy Gobert or DeAndre Jordan is entirely plausible.
Next: Top 10 candidates for the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year Award
If you had told me that Nurkic was All-NBA material back in Denver, I would have looked at you as if you were as insane as Donald Trump. All of that changes with the Blazers — as long as he stays healthy.