Utah Jazz center Nurkic out for at least four weeks
Jusuf Nurkic has been diagnosed with a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot and will miss at least four weeks. Utah will therefore open the NBA regular season without its experienced center.
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. According to journalist Chris Haynes, citing league sources, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international has suffered a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot.
He is expected to be unavailable for at least four weeks, meaning the Jazz will begin the regular season without him. Their opening game is scheduled for the night of October 22, at 3:00 a.m. Latvian time, against the Memphis Grizzlies.
What it means in the frontcourt
Although the Jazz have no shortage of big men in their rotation, it was widely expected that Nurkic would take the starting center spot. Last season the club acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. in a trade, but his best performances have come at power forward. In addition, Jackson has not reached an average of seven rebounds per game in any of his eight NBA seasons.
The 32-year-old Nurkic, meanwhile, contributed 10.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game on average for Utah last season. His absence could therefore create difficulties for the team at center at the start of the campaign.
