Stephen A. Smith called out Jusuf Nurkic for his performance against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2. The TV analyst claimed that the Portland Trail Blazers’ center is inconsistent from game to game, during his appearance on ESPN’s First Take.
(via NBC Sports Northwest):
“That damn Jusuf Nurkic, he gets on my damn nerves,” Smith said. “I can’t hold it in anymore. He gets on my damn nerves. Jusuf Nurkic can play. This brotha is not a scrub. He can play. He can really, really play offensively.”
Nurkic had several injury setbacks during the last seasons. He averaged 11.5 points on 51.4% shooting on nine shots a night during regular season.
“He can drop 30 anytime he wants to. He’ll drop 25-30 a night and disappear for three games. He makes me sick. He really does, because he’s so talented.
It’s wasted talent half the time with him. For no reason, he just doesn’t show up… talent-wise, he’s one of the best big men in the game. We just don’t see it half the time because he wants to take time off.”
