Portland Trailblazers starting center Jusuf Nurkic has gained a new fan. Not just any fan either- it's Blazers legend and two-time NBA champion Bill Walton.
The former Blazer joined the Talkin' Blazers Podcast to explain why he thinks the Bosnian Beast could be instrumental for Portland.
“The way he understands the game – and I haven’t seen him play that much – but the way he floats over the court for such a big, large person to have the footwork and the balance and the lightness of foot.” says Walton (per nbcsports.com). “To see the angles that he sees and I only see them on television. It’s always better in person. This guy is very special.”
Nurkic is expected to return after missing a whole calendar year due to a foot injury. Fortunately for Portland, the four-month break during the league-wide hiatus benefited them as it gave their big guy ample time to recover and complete his rehabilitation in time for the Blazers' playoff push in Orlando. The Bosnian was averaging 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds per game for Portland last season before suffering a compound fracture in his left tibia and fibula which has sidelined him since March of 2019.
Now that the seven-footer is healthy and back to man the Blazers' frontcourt, the team is looking like one of the dark horses to make the playoffs out West. Portland is currently out of the playoff picture. They find themselves chasing the Memphis Grizzlies for the last playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference.
If Walton has it right, Nurkic may be the missing piece the Blazers need for another solid post-season run.
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