There is no doubt that Center Jusuf Nurkic is the most divisive player the Phoenix Suns currently have on their roster. Despite doing everything he said he would when he landed in The Valley in exchange for Deandre Ayton, he has still failed to be the big needed in pursuit of a championship.
This despite Nurkic somehow being the healthiest key member of the rotation last season - he appeared in 75 regular season games - while leaning into 3-point shooting under head coach Mike Budenholzer this time out. He remains a big body who can bang with other centers, it's just there's bigger or more skilled fives out there who are able to get the better of Nurkic.
Which makes the latest injury news regarding him intriguing.
Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports - and one time of this very website - spoke with coach Budenholzer after their most recent practice session, and it was revealed that Nurkic has a contusion on his right thigh. Not only that, but the Bosnian is going to be re-evaluated in a week.
Mike Budenholzer on Jusuf Nurkic: “He’s been dealing with a lot of stuff to start the year, lower body stuff, thigh contusion.”
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 2, 2024
On Bradley Beal: “Brad did a significant part of practice, he didn’t do everything but he looked good”
No status yet, Suns will see how he responds pic.twitter.com/mcnTQMSi2s
Coach Bud also went on to say that Nurkic has dealt with a lot of lower body issues to start this season, which could partly explain the rough nights he has had out there. Then again, he's also had some solid showings that become even more impressive if he's been gutting it out in order to take to the court with his teammates.
You never wish injury on any player, but the news that Nurkic will be missing at least a week and likely more means the Suns have to confront their biggest problem right now. Which is the fact Nurkic is holding them back from reaching their full potential. As long as he has a meaningful role here, it caps how good this group can be.
The Minnesota Timberwolves ruthlessly exposed this weakness last season - and while they're not the problem anymore - the elite teams in the Western Conference rightly don't fear Nurkic. Perhaps as a backup center who could play 20 minutes and use his passing and screening offensively, but on the other end he's not a factor when it really matters in a playoff series.
So what this forced absence is going to do is allow the Suns to start Mason Plumlee, and see what develops from there. Both Nurkic and Plumlee started together in a recent loss to the Timberwolves - and although the sample size was tiny and it was with the team missing Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal - there were moments to like.
That was done out of necessity more than anything else though, and it will now be on Plumlee to lead the way. Really though this is a chance for rookie Oso Ighodaro to stake his claim. Fellow first year player Ryan Dunn hit the ground running and started some games himself, before crashing back down to earth across the last few weeks.
This is what the Suns can do without Jusuf Nurkic. pic.twitter.com/CBgCPryy9l
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) December 1, 2024
Ighodaro though gives this group something completely different at the five. Yes he is young and raw, but he's also bouncy and has the legs and wingspan to mop up mistakes that both he and his teammates make on the defensive end. For all Nurkic's IQ, his body doesn't allow him to do this.
Which is why this could ultimately end up being a defining moment of the Suns' season. The trade value for Nurkic is not good right now - hasn't been for some time - and yet if Ighodaro can take this chance and have Plumlee backing him up, you get the sense the organization will ditch him for anything as soon as they can. Never has an injury update felt so positive.