What happened to Jusuf Nurkic? Coach Mike Budenholzer drops injury update on Suns center
The Phoenix Suns will kick off their preseason on Sunday, with Mike Budenholzer's squad set to face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California. However, the Suns will be without star center Jusuf Nurkic, who is sidelined for at least a week due to an injury.
Nurkic sustained a middle finger injury during a practice scrimmage. Coach Budenholzer said the Bosnian star will be evaluated by the medical team in the coming days.
"We expect him (Jusuf Nurkic) to be out. We will just evaluate him and see how he does in the next few days and hope for the best," the Suns coach told reporters on Saturday.
Nurkic is a crucial asset for the Suns, and under coach Budenholzer, the former Denver Nuggets star is expected to take on a more versatile role beyond just dominating in the paint.
The 30-year-old is anticipated to stretch the floor more this season, with a significant increase in three-point attempts compared to last year. In 76 regular-season games last season, Nurkic averaged just 1.2 three-point attempts per game, shooting 24.4% from beyond the arc.
This season, expect Nurkic to take more shots from deep. During the offseason, the Bosnian center was frequently seen practicing his three-point shooting in the gym.
Oso Ighodaro to get more playing time in Nurkic's absence
Jusuf Nurkic's injury opens the door for rookie Oso Ighodaro to see more playing time and showcase his skills during the Suns' preseason games. Phoenix is set to play five preseason matchups before kicking off their regular season on Oct. 23 against the LA Clippers.
Addressing Nurkic's absence, coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Ighodaro is expected to get increased opportunities to impress the Suns' staff in the meantime.
"Certainly, probably, more opportunities for Oso (Ighodaro), which I think he's taken advantage of. He's getting comfortable understanding what we want to do," coach Budenholzer said.
Meanwhile, Nurkic appears to have taken rookie Oso Ighodaro under his wing. On Sunday, Ighodaro spoke highly of Nurkic, praising the veteran's willingness to help him refine his skills and develop his game.
"He's (Nurkic) always telling me to hop in with him after practice in drills, and him and Tyus, we're going through some ball screen angles and stuff. He's like, 'Rook, come hop in with me'," Ighodaro said.
Ighodaro is expected to see some playing time on Sunday when the Suns face off against the Lakers in a highly anticipated matchup.