Jusuf Nurkic: Why Nuggets Fans Shouldn’t Regret Trading Nurkic

Jusuf Nurkic has been a monster since being traded to Portland around a month ago, but Nuggets fans shouldn’t regret trading him or be angry about the trade.

Jusuf Nurkic has scored in double digits in all but one game for the Trail Blazers so far, as well as adding three double-doubles and an insane stat-line in his most recent performance.

He carried the Blazers to a win over the Sixers by adding 28 points, 20 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 blocks. His time with Portland has been quite good, yet Nuggets fans shouldn’t be upset about trading him.

Nurkic started the season great with the Nuggets. He looked like a player that was going to average a double-double and be a force to reckon with. After the first few games, Nurkic was averaging 15+ points and over 10 rebounds a game but those number slowly dropped until he was benched in favor of Nikola Jokic.

From when he was benched to when he was traded, Nurkic shot 45/97, shooting about 46% during that time. A 46% field goal percentage would rank in the bottom 10 for centers who have played over half the season.

It was easy to tell that Nurkic was slowly trying less and less. Simply, Nurkic gave up on the Nuggets, until he was finally traded.

Denver Nuggets

Nurkic did not fit the narrative the Nuggets were looking for. He is a ball dominant center and is totally opposite than Nikola Jokic.

Tim Connelly and the Nuggets’ front office wanted more continuity and they saw that in Mason Plumlee. Nikola Jokic and Mason Plumlee are both in the top 5 for assists per game for Centers. Jusuf Nurkic averages less than half of the assists that Plumlee or Jokic do (1.8 compared to 3.9 and 4.6).

Mason Plumlee may not stuff the stat sheet, but he does what he needs to and fits much better in the Nuggets’ system than Jusuf Nurkic did.

Looking back now, some fans are seeing this trade as a bad one for the Nuggets, especially since the Nuggets sent out a 1st rounder along with Nurkic in exchange for Plumlee and a 2nd round pick.

The Nuggets did not want to add two more rookies to their roster next year, which is why they parted ways with the 1st rounder.

Adding another 2nd round pick allows Tim Connelly to be able to draft and stash a player that could possibly become good.

Jusuf Nurkic was never going to thrive in Denver as long as Nikola Jokic was here and he quickly became a player not many teams wanted, which ultimately tarnished his value. His attitude was exactly the issue as to why he wasn’t traded for more.

Jusuf Nurkic definitely showed his potential when he had the opportunity in Denver, but stopped trying. The Nuggets probably valued Nurkic higher than what they traded him for, but trading him was better than wasting his talent on the bench.

Jusuf Nurkic might be playing great for the Blazers, but fans shouldn’t be mad over trading someone who gave up on the Nuggets.