Jami Thompson
Bosnian professional basketball player Jusuf Nurkic, also known as “the Bosnian Beast,” plays for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.
The center was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, standing 6 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 290 pounds.
Early Life & Family
Jusuf Nurkik was born to Jasmine and Hariz Nurkic in Zinivice, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on August 23, 1994.
His parents are both devoted Muslims, so he was brought up in a religious home from an early age.
His father, Hariz, is a police officer in Tuzla. Hariz has a massive frame and is 7 feet 2 inches tall. As a young man, the player tried but failed to pursue a career in basketball.
Jasmine, Nurkic’s mother, is a stay-at-home mom. In addition, he lives with his grandmother and younger brother Kenan.
The young Juka received his upbringing and education in his native Tuzla. Being fat and of average height, he spent most of his childhood watching television. Nurkic, in contrast to his father, had no desire to participate in sports. He preferred watching football, though.
Nurkic’s journey to the basketball court is an intriguing one. Enes Trnovcevic, a sports agent from Bosnia, discovered information about his Father in a publication.
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Professional Career
In 2012, Jusuf started his professional career. After leaving Lasko, he signed up to practice with the Croatian team Cedevita for a few months.
He did not, however, see a lot of action during his rookie campaign. He had poor stats given that he mostly played in extra time.
Furthermore, despite participating in 6 EuroLeague games, he only managed to average 1.8 points per contest.
He played in a comparatively higher number of games in the second season. He delivered exceptional results, as was to be expected. Jusuf participated in about 28 Adriatic League games for the team, scoring 11.6 points on average per contest.
He also played in 15 HT Premier Liga games, scoring 11.5 points on average.
Juka’s professional life in Europe was only two years long. He was loaned to KK Zader during this time, where he participated in a few games.
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NBA Career
Before entering the NBA draft, Jusuf had already attained fame on a global scale.
On July 31, he and the Nuggets signed a contract. He made his team debut against the Detroit Pistons, recording five points and seven rebounds.
Nurkic finished his rookie season with a season-high 17 points against the Golden State Warriors while taking part in 62 games for the Nuggets.
The club extended his contract for an additional year on October 11, 2015. But a tendon injury kept him away from the court for almost two months. In his second season, he played in 32 games, scoring 8.2 points and grabbing 5.5 rebounds per contest.
In the first games of the 2016–17 campaign, Nurkic started at center for the team. He set a new career-high with 23 points in the season’s opening game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Throughout the rest of the season, he continued to play well.
He was, however, supplanted by Nikola Jokic and sat on the bench for the season’s final games. He eventually asked for the trade, but the club was initially hesitant.
Net Worth, Salary & Career Earnings
Several sources claim that Jusuf Nurkic has a net worth of up to $4 million.
It’s been almost ten years since Jusuf first started earning money. He makes a sizeable income from league games. In 2022, he will earn $12 million annually.
2014 saw Nurkic sign a contract and play for the Denver Nuggets in his NBA debut. The team had given him a $1.76 million contract just for his rookie season. The club repeated this the following year, increasing his pay to about $1.85 million.
He has also made about $54.5 million while playing for the Blazers in just about five years. The athlete’s NBA career brought in about $60 million.
Awards & Achievements
- Croatian League Finals MVP (2014)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2015)
- All-Croatian League Second Team (2014)
- Nominated for FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year Award (2014)
- FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship Division B MVP (2014)
- FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship Division B MVP (2012)
Personal Life
Jusuf is dating a Bosnian woman named Emina Duric. In 2021, the couple got engaged. The Bosnian player got down on one knee and proposed to her with an engagement ring on her birthday in July 2021.
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Nurkic announced their relationship on Instagram by wishing Emina a happy birthday and including a picture of the two of them in which Emina is seen flashing her engagement ring.
She is employed and has a pharmacy degree from the University of Tuzla. She follows Islam as well.
Due to their jobs, the couple frequently sees each other despite living in different countries. Emina frequently visits the United States to see his matches.
Age, Height & Weight
The Bosnian athlete will be 28 years old in 2022. In addition, he stands at 2.11 meters (6 feet 11 inches) and weighs 290 lb (132 kg).
Social Media
FAQs
Is Jusuf Nurkic a good person?
Yusuf Nurkic is a competent player. He was hurt in 2021, but he has already made a full recovery. In addition, he has already played for the Blazers in 51 games this year.
Is Jusuf Nurkic a free agent?
Jusuf Nurkic is, in fact, a free agent. He currently fills the center position for the Blazers. However, there are numerous transfer rumors surrounding him, and this NBA season (2021–2022) may be his final one with his current team.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Jusuf Nurkic |
| Date of Birth | August 23, 1994 |
| Birth Place | Zinivice, Bosnia, and Herzegovina |
| Nick Name | The Bosnian Beast, Juka |
| Religion | Islam |
| Nationality | Bosnian |
| Ethnicity | Not available |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Age | 28 years old |
| Height | 2.11 m (6 feet 11 inches) |
| Weight | 290 lb (132 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Hariz Nurkic |
| Mother’s Name | Jasmina Nurkic |
| Siblings | A younger brother, Kenan Nurkic |
| Education | Not available |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Girlfriend’s Name | Emina Duric (engaged: 2021) |
| Kids | None |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| Food habit | Non-vegetarian |
| NBA Draft | 2014 |
| Position | center |
| League |
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| Active Years | (2012–present) |
| Clubs He Played For |
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| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Currently Plays For | Portland Trail Blazers (2017- present) |
| Career Highlights & Awards |
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| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter, Facebook |
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