Jusuf Nurkic taunts with kindness, earns hilarious technical foul
Denver Nuggets rookie big man Jusuf Nurkic has developed a reputation as a classic NBA tough guy in just a few short months. The 20-year-old Bosnian has impressed as an interior presence at both ends, but he also plays with a no-nonsense style more often found in crusty veterans. I suppose we should expect nothing less from a player who may have only been scouted in the first place because someone wanted to know if his father, a policeman who earned headlines for defeating 14 people in a fight, had any sons.
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If you think all this talk of Nurkic borders on hyperbole, then you should take a look at this play from Wednesday night's game vs. the Phoenix Suns at Pepsi Center. With 7:00 remaining in the third quarter, Nurkic sent the defending Markieff Morris to the floor on a post-up (or maybe Morris sent himself to the floor). Nurkic scored fairly easily and happened to catch the ball on its way through the rim. So, naturally, he decided to hand the ball right to Morris while he was still on the ground (video via SB Nation):
Nurkic was quickly handed a technical foul, which is not surprising given that he calmly placed the ball in the hands of the dude he had just dominated on the block. But this is normal taunt — it's hilarious because it's so nice, almost as if Nurkic is making a mockery of sportsmanship with dry wit.
It is unlikely that Oscar Wilde ever played basketball, but I'm pretty sure this is how he would have talked trash.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
