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Jusuf Nurkic Rumors
Jusuf Nurkic, Bosnia beat Greece with Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined
Greece has already qualified for the Eurobasket Round of 16. Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and Giannoulis Larentzakis (back) were rested after sustaining minor injuries, and the game started with a 34-21 lead over Bosnia. In the end, however, Bosnia got its second win of the tournament with the final score being 80-77, and can also hope to qualify depending on the result on the last day of the tournament against Georgia.
Thanks to an amazing 18-0 run, Bosnia turned things around, led 39-34 two minutes before the end of halftime, and never looked back. Naturalized guard John Roberson, with 18 points, was the top scorer of the winners. Jusuf Nurkic also scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds, and Edin Atic also scored 15.
Christos Tsaltas: Asked Jusuf Nurkic if Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence changed the game plan for Bosnia. "It didn't change a lot. We had the same attachment on offense or defense. Regardless of who gonna play there, you have to have the same discipline. "#EuroBasket #GREBIH @athletiko_gr
Nurkic also reflected on the differences between Giannis in the NBA and in FIBA play. “Of course he’s different. In the NBA he has so much space, with shooters like Brook Lopez spreading the floor, he’s almost unstoppable. Here it’s another game — no defensive three seconds, so much happening in the paint — but he’s still a dominant player,” the Bosnian center said. Is it easier in FIBA play than in the NBA? Nurkic acknowledged that the tighter court and different rules offer some relief, but not much. "A FIBA setting is probably a little easier than an NBA setting because he's spacing the floor better in the NBA than here," he opined.
Jusuf Nurkic: Giannis has 'sucked' against set defenses in Eurobasket play
Nurkic faced Giannis often enough to know the task never ends. “I think it’s different. Now he’s playing more at the '5'. Obviously, he will have to defend too," he pointed out. "But at the end of the day, just stop him in transition and live with his shots. Generally, he’s sucked at those defenses the last few years he’s played in EuroBasket. But it’s not only him, so we will be ready.”
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“Of course he’s different. In the NBA he has so much space, with shooters like Brook Lopez spreading the floor, he’s almost unstoppable. Here it’s another game — no defensive three seconds, so much happening in the paint — but he’s still a dominant player,” the Bosnian center said. And if anyone can maximize the Greek Freak’s impact in FIBA basketball, Nurkic pointed to one man: coach Vassilis Spanoulis. “Of course he can," he responded. "If a legend can’t find it, then no one can find it.”
In the EuroBasket 2025 opener for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Jusuf Nurkic stood out with a team-high 18 points in a comfortable win, 91-64, versus Cyprus. The 31-year-old center of the Utah Jazz added six rebounds, two steals, one block, and one steal. “We kind of used the game for something to maybe trick people, but at the end of the day, it’s a good start and I feel great to get first off my chest,” he recapped the team effort to begin a five-game round-robin schedule in Limassol.
Bosnia coach calls out Jusuf Nurkic: 'He's out of shape and can barely run'
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s prep games for the EuroBasket are going from bad to worse. In Sarajevo’s Skenderija arena, the national team suffered a convincing 102-90 defeat to Montenegro, who dominated from start to finish. Head coach Adis Beciragic made no attempt to hide his frustration after the game, pointing to glaring fitness problems among his players. “[Jusuf] Nurkic is out of shape and can barely run,” Beciragic said of the NBA center, who scored 15 points in his team's latest losing effort. “Xavier Castaneda is not training, he only started playing five-on-five two days ago. All that needs to be integrated into a team that has played together for two years.”
Nikola Vucevic scores 23 points as Montenegro defeats Bosnia and Herzegovina
Montenegro defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 102 – 90 to grab its first preparation win ahead of the EuroBasket. The game was held in the Mirza Delibašić hall in Sarajevo. Nikola Vucevic led five Montenegro players in double figures with 23 points. Jovan Klajcic had 16 points, Igor Drbonjak scored 14, Dordije Jovanovic posted 13 points and Marko Simonovic added 12 points. Dzanan Musa had 22 points for Bosnia. Aleksandar Lazic contributed 17 points and Jusuf Nurkic scored 15.
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Bobby Marks: As part of the trade, Charlotte is acquiring Vasilije Micic, sources tell ESPN. Micic was traded to Phoenix in February as part of the Jusuf Nurkic trade. His $8.1M team option will get exercised by Phoenix.
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