Players all around the NBA voiced their support of Jusuf Nurkic after he suffered a season-ending leg injury on Monday night in the matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets. It was a gruesome and heartbreaking injury to say the least, especially considering it happened to a player having a career year on a team bound for the playoffs.
A few players from the Denver Nuggets took to social media on Monday night to offer words of encouragement to Nurkic, including his former teammate Will Barton. Seeing a player suffer a severe injury like the one Nurkic did always evokes sympathy from players in the league, but when it happens to a former teammate and someone that you have a personal relationship with, it must be that much more heartbreaking.
Jarred Vanderbilt and Isaiah Thomas, who have never played with Nurkic, also offered their thoughts and prayers.
Despite whatever controversy that may have surrounded Nurkic towards the end of his tenure on the Nuggets, it was never a question that he was beloved by his teammates and the organization. That’s why it’s not surprising to see so many of his former and current teammates heartbroken over his injury.
While it’s a huge bummer that the Western Conference playoffs will simply not be as fun without Nurkic, Blazers fans (and any fan of the NBA) should be reassured that Nurk will undoubtedly face the rehab process the same way he does any challenge – with strength and passion.
Here’s to a speedy recovery for Nurkic.
