Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s detailed information about Jusuf Nurkić:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Jusuf Nurkić
  • Nationality: Bosnian
  • Date of Birth: Born August 23, 1994
  • Hometown: Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Height: 7 ft 0 in (213 cm)
  • Weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 2 in (218 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 17 (US)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike KD 15, Nike LeBron 20, Nike LeBron 18, Nike Hyperdunk X, Nike KD 10, Nike Hypershift
  • Number:
    • #27 (most commonly worn in the NBA)
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Did not attend high school in the United States; trained in Europe.
  • College: Did not play college basketball; developed his skills in European leagues.
  • NBA Draft:
    • Selected 16th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls (rights traded to the Denver Nuggets)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Denver Nuggets (2014–2017)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2017–2023)
    • Phoenix Suns (2023–present)
  • Championship Rings: None (as of 2024)
  • Kids: None (as of public information in 2024)
  • Siblings: Public information does not mention siblings.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Jusuf Nurkić’s player archetype is that of a traditional playmaking big: a bruising interior center who anchors the glass, sets punishing screens, and helps connect an offense with passing from the elbows and short roll. At 6-foot-11 and 290 pounds, he has the sheer size and strength to hold position in the paint, absorb contact, and play a physical brand of basketball on both ends. Offensively, his role is less about explosive scoring than it is about screening, rebounding, facilitating, and finishing around the rim, while defensively he operates as a drop-coverage interior presence who uses bulk, positioning, and defensive rebounding to protect the lane rather than switching all over the floor. In full, Nurkić plays like a heavy-duty veteran center whose value comes from toughness, passing feel, interior presence, and the ability to stabilize possessions with screens and boards.

Fun Facts

  • Jusuf Nurkić’s height without shoes is officially listed as 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm). With shoes, he is measured at 7 feet (213 cm).
  • Jusuf Nurkić’s listed playing weight is 290 pounds (132 kilograms).
  • Nurkić began his basketball career in Bosnia and developed further in the Croatian league before entering the NBA

Player Insights

Jusuf Nurkic had a lot of potential on the Portland Trail Blazers but struggled to stay healthy. Were his health issues bad luck or a sign of a body that wouldn’t last in the NBA? He looks to be demoted to third on the depth chart of the Phoenix Suns, playing behind Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro. Granted, Plumlee and Ighodaro are both good players, so Nurkic may still find a role on another team. The Suns seem to have issues at center and are likely to struggle heading into the playoffs unless they make a trade. 1/13/2025

Sources:

NBA.com — Jusuf Nurkić | Center | Utah Jazz | NBA.com
Utah Jazz — Jusuf Nurkić Continues to Step up for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz — Utah Jazz Film Study: Jusuf Nurkić’s Playmaking, Brice Sensabaugh’s Scoring Versatility, and More
NBA.com — Jusuf Nurkić out for remainder of 2025-26 season after undergoing nose surgery