Trail Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic excited for expanded role under new coach Chauncey Billups

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic speaks during media day on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021 at Moda Center.

Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic had a much more positive vibe about him Monday when he returned to the Moda Center to face the media for the first time since the team was eliminated from the NBA playoffs on June 3.

A clearly frustrated Nurkic left the arena that night upset about the loss and his role on the team. He made it crystal clear that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to return unless changes were made.

During media day on Monday, the smile on Nurkic’s face and bounce in his step told a different story.

He’s much happier. And not only because over the summer he got engaged to longtime girlfriend, Emina Duric, but because he expects to have an expanded role under new coach Chauncey Billups.

“I’m glad somebody wants me to be a bigger part of the organization,” Nurkic said.

Billups has made it clear that he wants to take full advantage of Nurkic’s skills, which include his scoring and passing abilities. Nurkic felt that last season, former coach Terry Stotts wanted him to concentrate more on defense causing his offense to slip. During the team’s playoff loss to Denver, Nurkic was burdened with slowing down NBA MVP Nikola Jokic while not also being afforded many opportunities to go back at him on the offensive end.

Nurkic said his relationship with Billups dates back to his days in Denver where his new coach played for five seasons. When Billups got the Blazers job in late June, Nurkic flew from Bosnia to meet with Billups to talk about his vision for the center.

Nurkic liked what he heard.

Billups will emphasize more ball movement while using Nurkic’s passing abilities to help create offense rather than simply have him set numerous screens for shooters and scoop up their misses. Nurkic said he expects there to be less isolation basketball, which could reduce the overall scoring totals for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum but at the same time spread the wealth around and ultimately make the team better.

“I’m sure I’m going to be more involved with the ball on offense,” Nurkic said.

When more involved, Nurkic said he becomes more engaged and that’s when he is at his best.

“I’m most dangerous when I play with an edge and have fun,” Nurkic said.

In the 2020 NBA bubble, Nurkic averaged 17.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and four assists over eight contests while playing 31.6 minutes per game. Last season, he produced 11.5 points, nine rebounds and 3.4 assists while playing 23.8 minutes per game.

Regardless of a potential increase in offensive production under Billups, Nurkic’s key value will remain his presence as a defensive anchor. The Blazers were clearly a better defensive team with him on the floor and the defense suffered during the 35 games he missed, mostly because of a broken wrist.

Billups said that assistant coach Roy Rogers’ primary responsibility will be to coach the defense, something Nurkic said he is looking forward to because both Rodgers and Billups have a strong sense about how to best use centers.

“I’m looking for a big year personally for me and the team,” Nurkic said.

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).

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