In a draft with a dearth of quality centers, can Nurkic rise above the rest?
At 6-11 and 280 pounds, it is safe to say Jusuf Nurkic is tough to handle in the paint. Of Bosnian descent, Nurkic spent the last season playing for KK Cedevita in Croatia and the Adriatic League. In a bench role behind Miro Bilan and Goran Suton, he saw 16.5 minutes per game, where he averaged just better than 11 points, five rebounds and one block per outing. While he played a smaller role last year than, perhaps, any other first-round prospect, his production in limited minutes lends way to significant optimism.
Not yet 20 years of age, Nurkic’s greatest strengths include his ability to score in the post and rebound at a high level, while he also shows potential with his back-to-the-basket defense. He is constantly praised over his soft touch around the hoop, where he uses a jump hook over his left shoulder as his primary post move. With a strong base, Nurkic is often able to finish through contact and get to the free-throw line, where he shoots 70 percent.
His rebounding ability helps separate Nurkic from many of the other big men in the draft outside of the prospects projected to be selected in the first half of the lottery. He has the ability to keep plays alive on the offensive end, while also helping to limit second-chance opportunities for his opponent. He has the potential to be a prolific rebounder at the next level.
While Nurkic is a bright prospect, there are weaknesses to his game, however. NBA-level athleticism and quickness are the noteworthy qualms in his game, and often lead to significant foul trouble for the center. His inexperience in the game also raises red flags about his basketball IQ and maturity.
Nurkic’s athleticism affects his ability to stay on the court. In the NBA against quality big men, Nurkic’s foul issues may be compounded. He shows the ability to dunk the ball in game situations, but is almost entirely a below-the-rim player. He will not be relied upon as a shot blocker at the next level, rather using his strength to defend in the low post.
The game of basketball is relatively new to Nurkic, and his age indicates there should be room to grow. Ideally, as he gains more experience, his ability to read his teammates and opponents will improve. Currently, Nurkic takes poor angles when defending the pick and roll, and often has tunnel vision when catching the ball in the low post, as evidenced by his high turnover percentage (17.6%). Additionally, his body language on the court needs to improve.
Nurkic is a good post prospect who will likely be selected in the middle of the first round. Once the top four big men come off the board (likely Embiid, Vonleh, Gordon and Randle), Nurkic could hear his name at any time, though his draft range likely falls between 12-21.
His interior scoring instincts and rebounding ability are among the best in the 2014 class. He likely will not play a major role initially, but if drafted by the right team, he has the potential to grow into something special.
Player Comparison: Nurkic could develop into a quality NBA center similar to Nikola Pekovic or Joel Przybilla, but with better scoring instincts.
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