The Phoenix Suns are off to a rocky start this season, and a lot of the heat has landed on their big man, Jusuf Nurkic. With a 10-8 record, the Suns haven’t exactly looked like the contenders everyone expected, and Nurkic’s play—plus some recent comments—has only added fuel to the fire.
Let’s start with the numbers. Nurkic hasn’t been great. He’s putting up just 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and less than half a steal and block per game in about 22 minutes. Oh, and he’s shooting a career-worst 40.4% from the field. Not ideal, especially for a team with championship aspirations.
But Nurkic thinks people are expecting too much from him. “I’ve been judged since I got here the most,” he said. “Everybody wants me to play the KD role.” He also brushed off fan criticism, saying, “They’re not real fans. The internet ain’t the real world. People are going to hate.“
Delusional statement by the weakest link in Phoenix’s rotation https://t.co/7AsfTEWUNM
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 28, 2024
That didn’t sit well with NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor, who didn’t hold back. He called Nurkic’s comments “a delusional statement by the weakest link in Phoenix’s rotation.” Ouch. His take highlights a broader frustration with Nurkic not pulling his weight on a roster full of stars.
The Suns’ Struggles Amid Jusuf Nurkic’s Poor Performance
Things haven’t been smooth for the Suns overall, either. After being touted as one of the top teams in the West, they’ve hit plenty of bumps. Injuries to Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal didn’t help, as the team limped through a 1-6 stretch. Even with those two back, inconsistency remains an issue. Sure, they crushed the Lakers 127-100 on November 27, but the very next night, they fell 127-117 to the Brooklyn Nets.
That Nets loss put their problems on full display. Despite Devin Booker’s 31 points and Kevin Durant’s 30, the Suns couldn’t stop coughing up the ball, committing 17 turnovers. Nurkic? He had a quiet night with just six points, seven rebounds, and one assist in 17 minutes—hardly a confidence booster.
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With a big game against the Golden State Warriors coming up on November 30, the Suns are running out of time to figure things out. As for Nurkic, he’s got a lot to prove, both on the court and in how he handles the spotlight. Right now, the pressure’s on, and everyone’s watching.
