I watched the Phoenix Suns lose to the Denver Nuggets in overtime while curled up in my own little hell, fighting a persistent case of nausea. I witnessed a scene that has grown all too familiar throughout the NBA as possession after possession passed. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic’s total and total dismantling.
Like so many others before him, he carved through Phoenix, adding yet another historic accomplishment to his already impressive list of accomplishments. 30 or more points. more than 20 rebounds. 20+ assists. each half a triple-double. The Suns were only his most recent canvas; it was basketball genius at its best, dominance in its purest form.
Respect. That’s all you can give Jokić for what he did to the Suns last night. A team that already struggles defensively had no chance against the sheer brilliance of Nikola Jokic’s basketball IQ. He toyed with them. Saw every move before it happened. Dismantled them with ease.
But you know what? As I lay there, writhing in pain, I couldn’t shake one thought. We could’ve at least put up a fight. We could’ve bodied him up, played him physical, made him work. That’s the only way to slow him down. Not stop him. Because nobody stops him. But at least make him feel it.
Once upon a time, the Suns had someone who could do that. And in a cruel twist of irony, on the very night Phoenix was being eviscerated by the Nuggets’ center, that man was putting together a stellar performance—for the Charlotte Hornets. That’s right. As I suffered through what I assume was food poisoning, it felt more like something worse. A sickness that lingers, that festers, that haunts every Suns fan who dares to dream.
We’ll reflect on the decisions made as the season comes to a close and consider whether there was a way to have a different result. An action that might have stabilized this team and increased their level of competition throughout?
The mistreatment of Jusuf Nurkic will rank close to the top of that list.
What if Nurkic had performed the night before? We will never be able to know. In actuality, it makes no difference at all. However, his absence served as yet another reminder of the roster mismanagement masterclass that occurred this season. Because the Suns have been lacking in both interior defense and rebounding. Completely unfazed by the lack of opposition, opposing teams cruise into the paint and finish easily. And why? since Jusuf Nurkić isn’t present to argue.
Sure, he wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t the most agile. He missed dunks that made you want to punch a beer can. He had an up-and-down year offensively. All of that is true. But it’s also true that he was the Suns’ best rebounder. Their best rim protector. And they traded him for two players who have combined to play 20 seconds this season.
And that? That is the epitome of a wasted opportunity.
Last night, against the best team in the league, Jusuf Nurkic played 28 minutes, dropped 12 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and finished with a team-high +18. Sure, the Charlotte Hornets lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 118–117, but it certainly wasn’t because of Nurkic’s performance.
While the Suns continue to struggle with rebounding and interior defense, their former center is out there contributing in a meaningful way. Meanwhile, the Suns continue to lose games and get absolutely shredded on the interior. Yeah, no one is stopping Joker, so I know this is an exercise in futility.
We’ll never truly know what could have happened if the bridge between Jusuf Nurkic and the Suns hadn’t been burned. We’ll never know where they might be right now if they had stayed the course, focusing their efforts on addressing other areas of the team’s deficiencies instead of undermining their best rebounder and rim protector.
The numbers tell the tale: the Suns were 15-18 when they made the decision to bench Nurkic. Since then, they’ve posted a 14-16 record. So, in the grand scheme of things, none of it matters. All I can do now is sit here, hoping the pain in my stomach will pass, along with the frustration of watching another season slip away.
