Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic’s NBA Career Proves Anything is Possible

Alright, hoop heads, buckle up! Jusuf Nurkic’s journey from a small Bosnian farm to the NBA is nothing short of legendary.

From Farm Fields to Hardwood Dreams

Imagine growing up on a tiny farm in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where basketball is just a distant echo. That’s exactly how it was for Jusuf Nurkic. He wasn’t even into sports all that much as a kid, preferring soccer over anything else. “I was a little bigger than everybody else, so I always enjoyed striking the ball as hard as possible, making the goalkeeper afraid to be in goal,” Nurkic reminisced with a laugh.

But in 2009, something clicked. A teenage Nurkic decided to take a shot at sports, and given his towering height, basketball was the obvious choice. Fast forward five years, and the Chicago Bulls came knocking. Talk about a meteoric rise!

Player Preview: Jusuf Nurkic. Bosnian Beast or Least?

(by @Nathanrjones23)

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A Crazy Fast Story

Nurkic’s journey to the NBA is nothing short of a whirlwind. “It’s a funny story. I didn’t practise basketball or any sport until 2009,” he explained. One day, a man from his village suggested he could be a great basketball player. At that time, Nurkic didn’t know a thing about the game. But hey, why not give it a shot?

“I went to basketball practice and started learning the rules, how to run, jump, and make certain moves. Five years after I first picked up a basketball, I was in the NBA,” Nurkic said, still sounding amazed. “To go from no sports to the NBA is uncommon. But that’s basically the way it happened.” It’s like finding a hidden gem in your backyard.

Adjusting to the NBA Life

Adapting to the NBA wasn’t a walk in the park. The pace of life in the U.S. was a shocker. “I felt a cultural difference in how fast people lived. I was not used to playing today and tomorrow, 82 games in one season. So that was the biggest change,” Nurkic admitted.

And let’s not forget the language barrier. “There was a little struggle because of the language barrier as well. But you know, they never make fun of you. So it helps you gain confidence,” he recalled. In my opinion, it’s pretty impressive how he handled all these challenges and still thrived.

Kobe Bryant: The Ultimate Idol

Despite his late start in basketball, Nurkic had a hero: Kobe Bryant. “Kobe Bryant,” he said without hesitation. “His story, mentality, and how hard he worked have influenced my life and how I play basketball.”

Meeting Kobe for the first time was a dream come true. “My first NBA game was against Kobe. So the way everything rolled out, it was perfect. You know, to meet him, talk to him, play against him, have a signed jersey.” And get this, Kobe even learned some Bosnian just to trash talk Nurkic during games. Now that’s dedication!

As Nurkic gears up for his 12th NBA season and second with Phoenix, he’s averaged 12.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game over 539 contests. Not too shabby for a guy who once knew nothing about basketball, right?

So, what do you think? Will Nurkic continue to dominate, or is there another twist in his story?