Jusuf Nurkic's Long-Awaited Return Could Be Delayed By Calf Injury

Just as Portland's starting center is reaching full health from a broken wrist, another injury is contributing to his absence.

Jack Winter

Jusuf Nurkic's Long-Awaited Return Could Be Delayed By Calf Injury
Jusuf Nurkic's Long-Awaited Return Could Be Delayed By Calf Injury /

Jusuf Nurkic is nearing recovery from his fractured right wrist.

It's been nearly two months since he underwent surgery, in basic keeping with the initially prescribed timeline for his eventual availability. During an appearance on ESPN's The Jump earlier this week, Nurkic confirmed that he'd be back on the court soon after the All-Star break, too.

Unfortunately, a new development seems to have complicated his long-awaited return to the floor. Speaking with reporters on Friday evening, Terry Stotts noted that Nurkic was more limited in practice than he had been previously because of a calf injury.

Stotts didn't elaborate on the severity of Nurkic's latest malady. Considering the big man was at least able to participate in a portion of practice, though, it's safe to say his calf injury isn't of a serious variety.

Still, that hardly means Nurkic suffering another physical setback isn't cause for some concern. Calf injuries have grown ever-ubiquitous this season, a likely symptom of the league's condensed schedule and shortened offseason. 

Portland obviously won't be rushing Nurkic back before he's reached full health, from both his wrist and calf injuries. If this scenario seems familiar, it's because Nurkic experienced essentially the same one as he worked to debut last season after suffering that devastating broken left leg. 

It was reported on January 31 of last year that Nurkic suffered a non-serious calf injury in practice. He was always slated to return after the All-Star break, but the league shutdown prevented him from taking the court again until the NBA bubble.

It won't be another six months before Nurkic returns, thankfully. But every game he misses matters in a stacked Western Conference, especially given the Blazers' exceedingly tough second-half schedule.

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Jack Winter
JACK WINTER

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