The Phoenix Suns have been a good team, but that is if they can stay healthy. Many injuries to players have kept this team from reaching its true potential. Unfortunately, the injury bug has not left town and bit its next victim for the third time this season. The Suns have dealt with many injuries, and a new one just came up on their radar that will sideline their starting center.
The Injury Bug Stays Hungry in Phoenix
Suns New Injury, Who Got Bit?
That is right, the Suns starting Center Jusuf Nurkic is once again injured for the third time this year. This time for Nurkic it is a thigh contusion and he will be re-evaluated in one week. Nurkic has dealt with multiple injuries to a multitude of places which has kept him limited this season. At first, it was a left middle finger injury, one that was sustained in a scrimmage. This left him out for every game of the preseason besides the finale.
The Suns announce Jusuf Nurkic will be re-evaluated in 1 week with a right thigh contusion
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 2, 2024
Nurkic also has dealt with some lower body injuries besides this most recent one. Nurkic has been dealing with some ankle issues, in which he mainly plays every other night. This has kept his recovery limited and his ceiling to produce limited. Nurkic stated that both ankles had been experiencing pain. Nurkic has yet to be 100% to show off his best play on a Suns team that needs the best of the best. When healthy, this team is top-tier, and the injuries proved that when they took a five-game skid.
Combined with his newest injury, this has left a sour taste in Suns fans’ mouths. Not only has Nurk not looked “the best he has felt,” as he said on media day, but now fans are questioning his role. Other prominent centers on this roster, like Oso Ighodaro and Mason Plumlee, have looked solid in his place.
Who Steps Up?
Now, the Suns without Nurkic must rely on their other centers, Oso and Mason. Luckily for the Suns, they have performed better than Nurkic this season. When looking at the Suns team plus/minus leaders, the two backups are in the top three for the Suns in that category. Nurkic, on the other hand, is a net negative towards the bottom of the list. We have also seen the Suns have a better playstyle without Nurkic. The Suns can have four out with one in and can defend the paint better as a team in this lineup. All these points, too, are some changes being made in that front court sooner rather than later.
The Last Word
Ultimately, the Suns are chasing one thing this season: a championship. Regardless of what that means, the front office will figure it out to bring the franchise its first title. That could have Nurkic on it, or it means he is moved. With Nurkic out, we will see the Suns experiment with their best lineup. A trade will be made if they prove they don’t need Nurkic when they are healthy. If Nurk is proven to be required, the Suns will do their best to mold him to his peak for the team’s success.
