Nemanja Bjelica is adapting to the NBA's foul rules
Nemanja Bjelica has 14 total fouls in his first four NBA games, swiping and grabbing just a bit too much for the NBA referees to let him get away with it. The 27-year-old Bjelica is used to the European game, one which allows for a more physical style of play. Essentially, the referees in Europe just let more of that swiping and grabbing go.
Now, four games into his NBA career, Bjelica is learning exactly what constitutes a foul over here, per Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune:
Bjelica has impressed thus far, playing almost 26 minutes a night while pulling down 7.3 boards and scoring 5.3 points. He's been able to make threes and dish passes. Not bad for a third big man.
“That’s to be expected,” Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell said. “It’s a different game in Europe. They let you bang and do things a little different. In the NBA, they call things a little bit tighter. He’s getting used to it.”
Nikola Pekovic went through the same thing a few years back. During his NBA rookie season in 2010-11, he was constantly battling foul trouble, averaging 7.3 fouls per 36 minutes played. A year later that number dropped to 2.8.
“I’m trying to help him with everything I can,” the center said of Bjelica. Given that Pekovic is currently rehabbing from Achilles’ heel surgery, most of that help is coming via advice rather than example. “But he’s a hard worker. He’s doing a good job. Hopefully everything will go OK.”
