Jusuf Nurkic went from the player everyone rolled their eyes at when they heard the Utah Jazz acquired him to the player everyone is stoked to have back this year. That's how beloved he became almost immediately. Even better is that the feeling is mutual and then some.
That's not just because Nurkic re-signed, but because he recently praised the Jazz as the best organization he's ever played for. He said as much two weeks ago during his appearance on Sofascore.
“They're the best organization I played for in my 12-year career,” Nurkic said. “Austin Ainge, Danny Ainge, the owner Ryan Smith, they just did a lot of small things that mean a lot. For example, this gas situation in the world, going to every home game, they fill the tank for our cars. They’re taking our families seriously in the arena. The market, they’re taking them to certain places, you know, hanging out and doing some stuff with them, which is helpful, right?”
Nurkic has played for the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and Charlotte Hornets before coming to the Jazz, so he's been around the block. He's even made it clear to the younger players that NBA teams don't do what the Jazz do.
“The kids, or the young guys on the team, I was having a hard time explaining to them, ‘This is not the NBA. This is not every team.’ It’s such a unique situation to explain. Every team is a little different,” Nurkic said
For years, Utah has been regarded as a place NBA players don't want to play. Derek Harper refused to be traded to the team almost three decades ago, and Kevin Durant called out Salt Lake City's lack of nightlife.
Nurkic doesn't even have to give the Jazz such compliments, but him doing so anyway speaks to his character and just how strong of an impression the Jazz have left on him even though it's only been a year.
Nurkic has been honest about his teams in the past
If anyone thinks Nurk is brown-nosing, he isn't. He is a genuine person whether he is praising or criticizing his teams. This is evidenced not only by his praise for Utah, but also by his choice words for his former coach, Mike Budenholzer, from their time in Phoenix together.
His time in Utah has proven that the washed allegations about him were greatly exaggerated. All he needed was the right team for him to get back on track. Look where it's got him now. He's the starting center on a Jazz team aiming for the playoffs.
No one knew Nurk would work out as well as he has since joining Utah. A year ago, everyone truly wondered how he was all they got for Collin Sexton, but now, everyone's glad to know that they got him, period.
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