Jusuf Nurkic, the towering 7-footer, has earned a reputation for his imposing presence on the court. While fans know him for his impressive on-court performances, his background has generated both curiosity and controversy. One of the most frequently asked questions about him concerns his religious beliefs. So, let’s delve into his background, and explore the origins of the Phoneix Suns‘ center.

Where is Jusuf Nurkic from? What is the Suns star’s nationality?

Jusuf Nurkic was born on 23 August 1994 in a town called Živinice located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His nationality is Bosnian, however, his journey to the NBA began in Slovenia and his professional career in Croatia. While it’s hard to determine his ethnicity considering the multi-ethnic background of Bosnia, Jusuf has openly shared his religious beliefs.

He practices Islam, which is the most widespread religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Jusuf’s family background is quite interesting as well. His father Hariz, is a police officer and has an imposing personality with a height of 7 feet and weighing over 440 pounds.

He was once involved in a fight and took on 14 people all by himself. However, this incident changed the Nurkic family’s life forever. This news involving Hariz caught the eye of a sports broadcaster Enes Trnovcevic, who later reached out to him. Impressed by his physical strength, the only question Enes asked was, “Do you have a son?”

Jusuf was 14 back then and never trained for basketball was offered an opportunity by Enes. He took Jusuf to Slovenia, where he began his basketball journey. Rising from the ranks of youth teams such as Zlatorog Laško and Union Olimpija, he went on to play for the Croatian team, Cedevita Zagreb.

Has Jusuf Nurkic played for the Bosnian National team?

Beyond his success in the NBA and European Leagues, Jusuf Nurkic has also represented his homeland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the international stage. He debuted for the senior team during the EuroBasket 2017 qualifiers. One of the more memorable moments in his national team career came during EuroBasket 2022. Despite Bosnia and Herzegovina being knocked out in the group stage, Jusuf helped lead the team to a stunning upset over defending champions Slovenia, with Bosnia pulling off a 97-93 win.

Jusuf has also represented his country at other international competitions, including the FIBA Europe Under-18 and Under-20 Championships, where he was named MVP on both occasions. Nurkic’s impact on the Bosnian national team extends beyond his on-court contributions. He serves as an inspiration to aspiring young players from different parts of the world for success in international basketball.