As the 2022 NBA free agency period continues the Portland Trail Blazers have
secured Jusif Nurkic for another four years. Klutch Sports has just announced
that Nurkic has agreed to a $70 millions deal to play for the Trail Blazers.
The 2022-2023 season will be Nurkic’s 9th season in the NBA and
his 6th season with the Trail Blazers. Nurkic is originally from Bosnia
and has been playing basketball since he was 14. Before the NBA he spent two
years playing with Cedivta Zagreb before he was selected by the Chicago Bulls
as the 16th overall pick during the 2014 NBA draft. He was later traded to the
Denver Nuggets where he played with them for 3 years. In 2017 he was traded to
the Portland Trail Blazers where he has been for the last 5 ½ years and where he
is planning to be for the next four years.
Nurkic has become a well-known player since starting his professional
basketball career in the NBA. He also has made moves outside of the United
States representing Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally. The “Bosnian Beast”
played 56 games during the 2021-2022 season where he averaged 15.0 points, 2.8
assists and 11.1 rebounds. This last season was difficult for him due to a foot
injury that kept him from playing. However, this has not been an uncommon theme
for Nurkic, having suffered multiple injuries over the years including wrist
and foot injuries. This has not only affected his skills on the court, but it
has also affected his playing time. Previously Nurkic had only played 45
games total over the course of the two previous NBA seasons.
In the 8 seasons that Nurkic has played with the NBA he has played 411 games
starting in 330 and averaging 12.2 points. The almost 7-foot-tall basketball
player has made a name for himself in the basketball world and is slated to
continue his center position on the team. The free agency period has been
successful for the Trail Blazers. Along with Nurkic the trailblazers have also
signed Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Drew Eubanks. With it only being
day two for the free agency period, the Trail Blazers still have time to secure
other players. However, they last two days have been exciting for the team. With
this lineup of players and Nurkic healthy again the Trail Blazers are hopefully
in for a better season this year.
Northwest Sports Desk 