Jazz man's historic EuroBasket success overshadowed by Lauri Markkanen's dominance

Lauri Markkanen has dominated the headlines since EuroBasket began. After a lackluster third season with the Utah Jazz, Markkanen has given every indication that he's due for a return to form season. However, his individual success has overshadowed the history Jusuf Nurkic just made in the EuroBasket with his home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nurkic just helped his home country advance past the EuroBasket group stage, which hasn't happened since 1993. One may decry that Nurkic was just there for the ride, but his performance says otherwise.

Nurkic has been hailed as the best basketball player to ever come out of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even if the only other player from his country to play in the NBA is Mirza Teletovic, their success in EuroBasket shows how impactful Nurkic still is.

He still remains the most confusing Jazz addition in recent memory, and he's not the player he once was when he played for Portland, but it's still cool to see that he is doing everything he can while he still can.

Because Nurkic isn't the name he used to be, it's easier for Jazz fans to forget that he's playing in EuroBasket, especially when Markkanen is not only lighting it up, but by doing so, he's sending a good reminder of the player he can be when nothing is holding him back.

Is Nurkic playing himself into a role with the Jazz?

While it's not exactly surprising that one of only two players who ever came out of Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of their standsouts, perhaps Nurkic is using this opportunity to show the Jazz that he's still got some good basketball left in the tank.

At this stage of his career, he is a backup center. While Utah doesn't plan to make the playoffs, Nurkic could be the bar for their younger bigs like Kyle Filipowski and Taylor Hendricks have to clear before they fully trust them. It's not a high bar to clear, but it could still be one nonetheless.

It's always goods to challenge youngsters and not let them think they are automatically entitled to a big role just because they are part of the future. Nurkic would be that measuring stick for the Jazz youngsters this coming season even if that's not exactly a good reason to have acquired him in the first place.

Nurkic will likely be a one-year rental for the Jazz. In fact, it might not even be a year because Nurkic will likely want to re-establish his value on a playoff contender. But that doesn't mean he can't be useful.