Jusuf Nurkic weight loss

However, the situation is slightly different this season, as Nurkic's presence allows the Blazers to let Leonard prove he is ready to produce without depending on him for major minutes on a nightly basis. ""I was playing pick-up and somebody ran into my shoulder," he said. "While one Blazers big man was channeling a throwback style, another was looking to a brighter future. So, I'm still a strong dude. "Leonard spent the summer in Los Angeles working out daily with trainer Drew Hanlen, refining his shot mechanics, working on his post moves and building up his shaken confidence. Our defense was trash, to be honest, before. The Blazers have a terrific backcourt tandem of Jusuf Nurkic showed promise for the Blazers last season when he played 20 games for the team and averaged 15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks after being traded from the Unfortunately, Nurkic wasn’t able to finish the season due to a leg injury. Our team, we need to play defense, bottom line. When the Bosnian 7-footer arrived in Portland last February, he was 309 pounds, unconditioned and mostly, unknown.Today, one week from the start of Trail Blazers training camp, Nurkic is 275 pounds, fit, and one of the centerpieces of a team that has once again adopted an attitude of proving naysayers wrong.For visual evidence, Nurkic has posted several images on his Instagram account showing a greatly trimmed-down 23-year-old Bosnian.A post shared by Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) on A post shared by Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) on This is a welcome sight for the Blazers, who are counting on Nurkic to be the anchor of the team’s frontline. "Because at some point -- it is still about development -- but it's about production. "I'm in the best shape of my life and the best mentally I can be," he said, adding that he will be able faster and quicker on the court while the lighter frame will allow him to play for longer stretches.Nurkic is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is eligible for a contract extension, but has to reach an agreement with the Blazers prior to Oct. 16. "All we can do is put all we can together and be Bad Boys," he said. I was put in a lot of different situations. With how he’s been getting in shape this offseason, however, it seems Nurkic is all set to see action again.Copyright © ClutchPoints.

"Nurkic, who was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the tail end of the Bad Boys reign in Detroit, may have mixed up his eras of Pistons basketball, but the sentiment is clear: The Blazers must be tougher on defense. "To drop weight, Nurkic stayed in Portland for much of his summer, working out at the Blazers practice facility daily in July and August before returning home to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a few weeks just before training camp opened. Don’t be so surprised if you saw Jusuf Nurkic on the floor next season looking a lot slimmer than what he looked like last year. "It just popped out. We're going to be better. "I feel like we can be the group like Detroit was with Chauncey (Billups) and Rasheed Wallace," he said. "At the end of the day he's going to have to do it on the court," Olshey said. "As he enters his sixth NBA season, Leonard's career is at a crossroads. "I did not play well.

"It sounds crazy, 34 pounds," Nurkic said. When I came it was better and we're going to keep improving that. I played pick up ball with many different guys, many different scenarios. "Everybody knows I want to be here," Nurkic said. "I worked as hard as I could," Leonard said of his offseason. He is no longer viewed as a potential building block for the franchise and instead needs to show he can be a consistent contributor in a limited role. "It's not secret. Jusuf Nurkic has lost some serious weight over the course of the NBA off season. This isn't the first offseason where he has come back to training camp announcing personal growth. Period.

"I mean, we are Bad Boys. "I know as a player and person last year was not good," he said.

He said most of the weight loss came from hard work and ramped up cardio, but he also cut sugar out of his diet for nearly two months, slimming down as he enters a contract year in what will be his first full season with the Blazers.

"...be that group even with the youngest team in the league. "But I'm still 270. Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic  dropped 35 pounds this summer, looking noticeably skinnier as he spoke inside the Courtside Club at the Moda Center.

Otherwise he will have wait until July to negotiate a long term deal to stay in Portland. It's simple: If you want to win, you need to play defense. When you come to Portland you know you're not going to have wins easy. I think Meyers knows that and his commitment in the offseason has put him in a position where he's ready to compete. Partner of iOne Digital / Cassius Network.

And I proved to myself I'm indeed capable of playing and I can do many things on the floor to impact the game. I don't know our future, but right now we want to be the Bad Boys.

"Vonleh, who was in the mix to start at power forward, is now likely sidelined until November leaving the door open for Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis or possibly rookie Caleb Swanigan to be the starter on opening night.Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our "I got really a lot of good work in and I'm ready. ""He's a key piece to the future of this team, but we don't discuss contract negotiations," Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey said before adding that failing to reach an agreement prior to the start of the season has no indication for Nurkic's chances of signing a long-term deal next summer.Nurkic might not have clarity about his future with the Blazers, but he did offer a blueprint for how the team can compete in a crowded and likely hyper-competitive Western Conference. He found Hanlen on the recommendation of former Blazer Wesley Matthews, who directed Leonard toward the highly respected trainer over dinner at the All-Star break last season.