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Jusuf Nurkic suffered a gruesome leg injury in the closing stages of the 2018-19 regular season, but that didn't keep the Portland Trail Blazers from reaching the Western Conference Finals. The long timeline for his recovery also won't keep the 7-footer away from the gym, as he feels he's exactly where he needs to be as he works toward a return to the court.
The Bosnian Beast wouldn't put a date on his awaited return, but noted he's making the right strides in his recovery:
“I’m going to be back when I’m back,” Nurkic told Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, noting he's been running on the treadmill for a while and already doing a variety of basketball-related activities, including shooting and jumping.
The most encouraging sign is that his leg has now been “pain-free” for six months.
“I’m exactly where they want me to be,” he said. “So I think everything is good.”
His teammates have noticed that as well, as Damian Lillard explained his optimism:
“He was already ahead of schedule and moving and on top of things,” Lillard said. “And that was way back then. So right then, I started to get that feeling …”
Nurkic is at a good place mentally, something Lillard felt by the way he has been attacking his rehab.
“Every time I talked to him (over the summer), he was training,” Lillard said. “That’s not made up. He was really trying to get going.”
The Blazers traded for Hassan Whiteside in hopes to not lose a step in a tight Western Conference race, a 7-footer that will start in Nurkic's place until he gets back into gear. If Nurkic is able to return this season, Portland could have a 7-footer duo that will scare teams in the paint, as both players are ruthless shot-blockers and dynamic on the offensive end.
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