The Phoenix Suns have started the season 7-1, tied for the best start in franchise history. It still might not be enough to call them the best team in the Western Conference at this early stage, but there's no doubting this is a wildly different animal than the one we saw last season.
Everybody has played their part in making this happen - with head coach Mike Budenholzer correctly putting all of the pieces together in the process - and the Suns could have players in the mix for end of season awards. Kevin Durant or Devin Booker for MVP, coach Budenholzer for Coach of the Year, and even Royce O'Neale for the Sixth Man gong.
Yet it is Jusuf Nurkic who continues to prove everybody wrong.
Of the Suns' established starting five, he is without question the guy that fans would upgrade if they had the chance. Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz is seemingly available and would be both a better short and long-term fit, but the cost of doing business to get that deal over the line is not worth entertaining if you're Phoenix.
Really any deal that would offload Nurkic is unlikely to happen, both because the Suns are in the second apron of a hard salary cap, and because Nurkic's value remains relatively low around the league. Yet despite this - and with coach Budenholzer trying to remake his offensive game as the season progresses - Nurkic continues to step up for the Suns when needed.
🤏🏻 #sunsup pic.twitter.com/HoCkr4HAe3
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) November 7, 2024
He has his poor games and his off nights sure, but then the 30-year-old will come along with the kind of night that allows you to see the big picture again. The latest example coming as part of this team's 115-112 win over the Miami Heat, a game in which Nurkic posted an impressive 20 points and 18 boards.
To do this against Bam Adebayo - one of the best defenders in the league - while also holding him to 12 points and 12 rebounds, is very impressive. The kind of statement game against a known name the Nurkic needs to produce every so often, so as to keep his head above water. Nurkic deserves credit for continuing to play his way, even when fans often groan at what that leads to.
Also getting lost in the improved play of Nurkic on a semi-regular basis (again, he has already had some poor showings so far this season there's no denying that), is the fact he has more help out on the court on both ends of the floor. Point guard Tyus Jones makes his life easier in getting him the ball where he wants it on certain possessions.
This is a far cry from last season, when the Suns ran plays by committee and Nurkic himself was often tasked with handling the ball some to get teammates open. On the defensive end, the introduction of two-way rookie Ryan Dunn and some early involvement from Bradley Beal meant he was covering less mistakes and getting more help from his teammates.
Nurkic is never going to be an elite rim protector, and coach Budenholzer will have to come up with some ways between now and the playoffs to ensure Nurkic is not painfully exposed once again. It is still early in the season, but the Suns are almost three points better off (106.9) when Nurkic is on the court, compared to their ninth rated defensive rating for the team as a whole (109.5).
That sample size is small, but it does partly explain this team's winning start to the campaign. You can say what you want about Jusuf Nurkic - fans in The Valley do not hold back in their opinions on the center - but a new head coach and some different teammates have helped hide some of his average defensive qualities. Sprinkle in some big double-double nights, and he's proving the haters wrong.