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The health of Jusuf Nurkic should be Trail Blazers’ top priority

By Carson Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 09: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 9, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 09: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center on January 9, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Jusuf Nurkic should take his time with his recovery as the Trail Blazers don’t appear to be contenders and have the worst injury luck in the NBA.

The Portland Trail Blazers are in the hunt for the playoffs at the moment, but the best that could come from making a run is a likely first-round matchup with the Lakers. I would never endorse tanking, however, there should be no serious rush to get Jusuf Nurkic back on the court.

Jusuf Nurkic — also known as the Bosnian Beast — suffered one of the more gruesome injuries in recent NBA history. We watched his left leg snap at the end of what was the best game of his career. People seem to have forgotten the high level he was playing at, and many outsiders haven’t been as eager to have him return to action. While I’m looking to seeing Nurkic’s comeback as much as any Blazers fan, the last thing I want to see is him return prematurely.

Jusuf Nurkic is a huge part of the Trail Blazers’ future. He’s just 25-years-old and has two years left on his deal after this season comes to a close. Especially with the injury misfortune in Portland, there should be no rush. Some of the Hassan Whiteside hype definitely has people forgetting about how special Nurkic was for the Blazers. He’s a fantastic rim protector, strong finisher, and a monster on the glass.

At the end of that day, maximizing Nurkic’s shelf-life and avoiding re-injury must be the top priority in Portland. This team as it stands will not compete with the Lakers, Clippers or anyone else they would potentially run into if they did indeed make the playoffs.

This is no shot at the players on the team at all, it’s an injury matter. That’s the narrative for the Trail Blazers this year and that’s been the story of the season to many times in recent history for them to rush Nurkic back into play.

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If Zach Collins and Rodney Hood we’re still healthy then it would make way more sense to rush him somewhat, but the pieces aren’t there at the moment for the Trail Blazers. If Jusuf Nurkic has any doubts about returning then he shouldn’t at all.