Jusuf Nurkic has seen the highs and lows of international basketball, and right now, EuroBasket 2025 represents one of the brighter moments of his career with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On Thursday night in Limassol, the veteran center powered his country into the Round of 16 as the third seed from Group C. He delivered a strong double-double performance, putting up 15 points and 12 rebounds in the decisive win over Georgia at the Spyros Kyprianou Arena.
Speaking after the game, Nurkic emphasized that the journey is far from over.
“We’re not done. We just made the second phase,” he said, reminding reporters that Bosnia-Herzegovina has higher ambitions beyond simply advancing out of the group.
The the Utah Jazz big man also reflected on his long-standing efforts to support the national program, often from his own pocket.
“I wish it weren’t like that. I wish it’s better in a way, by government funding,” Nurkic explained, recalling times when he personally financed Bosnia-Herzegovina’s senior national team.
“To be like a normal country, like everywhere else, where people don’t have to worry about certain things like small things, traveling, and hotels, and certain stuff.”
He made clear that his commitment to the team goes beyond just playing.
“This was probably in the hope of changing the minds of the people and the governments, and maybe they finally agreed that it should be better for the next generation, for the young generation to want to wear the jersey, but I can’t really control those things.
“I can only call out. I’m here to help any way I can, playing, financially, whatever I have to do,” he said. “Sometimes it’s better to stay inside, but sometimes you have to go outside.”
With Bosnia-Herzegovina securing third place, the other Group C results – Italy vs. Cyprus and Greece vs. Spain – would determine the final standings and the fate of Georgia and Spain. Nurkic even offered a prediction on how things might play out.
“To me, they’re not losing,” he said confidently, expecting Greece to beat Spain. “Thus clinch the top seed, sending Georgia fourth and Spain out.”
When asked about the difference between EuroBasket and the NBA, Nurkic described the unique intensity of the European competition.
“There’s such a difference because it’s only one game, and to me it’s more like a knockout phase like March Madness than it’s like a playoff series,” he explained. “It’s fun.”
🇧🇦 Jusuf Nurkic supports Bosnia-Herzegovina on and off the court
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) September 4, 2025
“I'm here to help any way I can, playing, financially, whatever I have to do”
➕ Making the second round of a March Madness-like tournament #EuroBaskethttps://t.co/P31zLQrXnd
