It's safe to say Jusuf Nurkic decimated even the highest of expectations in his rookie season. What was supposed to be a season of learning and development instead became one where Nurkic found himself in the starting line up before even the All-Star break.
While Nurkic's production diminished as he battled injuries, fatigue and increased attention from opponents, he nonetheless gave both the fans and the organization hope for the future. So what's next for the promising, but still young center?
“I just want to work on my skills,” Nurkic said. “I need to be more patient with everything. So I will work overseas, I will come to summer league. I’m still a young guy, so I will work hard, and I can’t wait until next season. We will see what happens in the summer. I’m excited about it.”
Conditioning and being smarter on defense – that is, cutting down on fouls – will be key to Nurkic's development. Obviously, there are other areas in which he needs to improve, but it's those two aspects that will allow him to stay on the court longer. If he can do that, he'll have an even greater impact on the team in his sophomore season.
(h/t Denver Post)
Photo credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
