When the Denver Nuggets traded for Jusuf Nurkic during the 2014 NBA draft, they knew they had a special talent on their hands.
Nurkic was labeled as the big man of the future for a Nuggets team that was in the process of rebuilding.
His career, to this point, has been interesting. He’s flashed greatness, but also struggled to remain in shape and find consistent playing time on the basketball court.
Last year, his first season back from knee surgery, Nurk played in just 32 of the team’s 82 games, which included missing eight straight games at one point despite being healthy.
Bottom line is that Nurkic’s shape and work ethic have been issues his entire NBA career; however, it seems as if the Bosnian beast has turned the page.
6am? No problem.. #BosnianBeast pic.twitter.com/YZt0Q9r7rE
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) July 9, 2016
The “grind” had been going on all offseason for Nurkic, who seems to be noticeably thinner, claiming to have lost 35lbs.
Throughout the NBA’s dead period, Nurkic has taken to Twitter to show just how much work he has been putting in. Check it out:
There is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory.. @SteveHess1 @Eichbra #BosnianBeast pic.twitter.com/89ELccOiTT
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) July 7, 2016
BE STRONG because things will get better. It may be stormy now, but it never rains forever. #BosnianBeast pic.twitter.com/crxpU0VDsd
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) July 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/nurkic23/status/749723267242483712
Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destination. pic.twitter.com/MyFEpaPjHG
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) July 2, 2016
Things certainly seem to be trending upwards for the 21-year-old center.
If the Nuggets can develop Nurkic into a wrecking ball down low, they would have added yet another young, promising player to the pool of talent they already possess. The sky’s the limit for Nurk, and it seems he is finally realizing he has the potential to be a dominant force in the NBA.