The NBA is a league full of characters, but Jusuf Nurkic is most definitely one of a kind.
From the moment Nurkic, a 20-year-old rookie from Bosnia, began taunting Kobe Bryant, it was clear that he was well on his way to becoming a fan favorite.
Whether it was because something was lost in translation or because the kid just didn’t give a crap, Nurkic carried himself as if he was a five-time champion from day one.
There’s no player in the NBA with more swag than this guy, and I’ve got a good feeling that a large portion of that can be attributed to Nurkic’s father, Hariz, a 7-foot, 400-pound police officer from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
PAPA NURKIC pic.twitter.com/7WX37TBqGs
— Seth Rosenthal (@seth_rosenthal) January 15, 2015
According to Nurkic’s fan page, a Bosnian sports agent stumbled across Nurkic after reading a story about his father in a newspaper. The story said, “Bosnian policeman, Hariz Nurkic has beaten 14 people in a fight.” Apparently, that’s all the agent needed; the next day he found Hariz, asked if he had a son and took Jusuf to Slovenia to learn the game of basketball.
Who knows how much of it is true, but it fits the bill.
I mean, the son of a man who can beat up 14 guys in one fight is definitely the type of guy who’ll start trash talking DeMarcus Cousins.
Nurkic may be a young guy, but he plays an old man’s game, and if you’re not on his level, he’s going to let you know. Just ask Markieff Morris what Nurkic thinks of some weak post-up defense.
And all this is without mentioning the fact that Nurkic is good, real good, and he’s set to be one of the main foundation blocks of this revitalized Denver Nuggets roster.
Well … that is if the Broncos don’t get to him first.
Hey @Broncos! We know you're 4-0, but if you need a 7-foot receiver, we know a guy… #BosnianBeast #Nuggets http://t.co/56GEz5zGBK
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 5, 2015