Jusuf Nurkic gets brutally called out after his Kevin Durant statement.
The Phoenix Suns currently have one of the best rosters in the NBA. They have a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal alongside a solid supporting cast.
However, both KD and Beal have missed several games due to injuries, which has led to the Suns slipping spots in the Western Conference standings.
Evidently, the fans have called out every player on the roster for their inability to win games.
Apart from the highly talented Big 3, the Suns have relied on veteran center Jusuf Nurkic to dominate the paint.
Although Nurkic did that job last season as he averaged a double-double for the season, he has struggled to play at that level in the 2024-25 NBA season.
Following the Suns’ recent win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nurkic opened up on KD-like expectations from him since joining the team.
“I feel like I have been judged the most since I got here. It feels like everybody wants me to play the Kevin Durant role with just two shots. That’s not how it works,” Nurkic said.
He further opened up on how the “real” Suns fans treat him.
“They’re not real fans. You go out there in Phoenix, you’ll see the real fans. The internet isn’t the real world. People will hate regardless,” Nurkic boldly stated.
It’s obvious that Nurkic was talking about a specific group of Suns fans, specifically the ones on social media.
Durant is one of the greatest scorers of all time while Nurkic has remained a role player throughout his NBA career. Keeping that in mind, the 30-year-old’s recent comments involving KD didn’t sit well with most.
NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor called out Nurkic for his remarks on X.
“Delusional statement by the weakest link in Phoenix’s rotation,” O’Connor wrote.
Delusional statement by the weakest link in Phoenix’s rotation https://t.co/7AsfTEWUNM
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 28, 2024
But is there any team where Nurkic could average Durant-like numbers?
“Jusuf Nurkic couldn’t play a Kevin Durant role on the Shanghai Sharks,” O’Connor responded to a fan who suggested Nurkic will be soon gone from the Suns.
Jusuf Nurkic couldn’t play a Kevin Durant role on the Shanghai Sharks https://t.co/dZbaEi9For
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 28, 2024
So far, Nurkic is averaging 8.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting just 42.0% from the field. The Suns are currently the ninth seed in the West with a 10-8 record.
