The Phoenix Suns will reportedly be getting back at least one of their four injured players for their preseason finale Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!NBA insider Chris Haynes reported on X: “Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić (finger) who hasn’t played this preseason, plans to make his debut in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Sources: Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić (finger) who hasn’t played this preseason, plans to make his debut in Thursday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/vfQ37A3T1X
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 16, 2024
Nurkić has missed all four of Phoenix’s preseason games with his left middle finger injury that was suffered during a scrimmage during the first week of training camp, but did travel with the team to the three away games. Mason Plumlee has started all four preseason games at center in his place.
“Nurk hasn’t had any contact, hasn’t done any basketball. He’s been doing a great job with his conditioning, but there’s nothing like playing basketball,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said at practice yesterday.
The Suns acquired the 30-year-old Nurkić from the Portland Trail Blazers on Sept. 27 last year, in a deal where they sent out Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara and also received Nassir Little and Grayson Allen. Nurkić had the best plus/minus on the Suns in his first season at +5.3 and had multiple games of 20-plus rebounds. Across 76 games played (all starts), the 7-footer averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game.
Nurkić lost a noticeable amount of weight this offseason and also worked a lot on his 3-point shot in hopes to add a new dimension to the Suns’ offense.
“Coming in lighter, moving better,” Nurkić said at media day last month. “My No. 1 one goal was just getting healthier, and I was dealing with so much through the last season. But overall, I’m really in a great spot, probably the best I’ve been in a long time and (with) family situation, everything. Looking forward (to) a great year. Personally, for me, the best one.”
Suns star guard Devin Booker (right ankle soreness), backup guard Grayson Allen (Achilles soreness) and reserve forward Josh Okogie (hamstring tightness) are all dealing with various injuries. Budenholzer provided some updates on all of them at practice yesterday, and there could be more news after the Suns practice later today.
Phoenix has exactly one week until its season opener on Oct. 23 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
