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Early Impressions Part 2: Jusuf Nurkic Making Impact in Rip City

A long year ago, in a city a few states away, Jusuf Nurkic flashed signs of holding down the center spot in Denver, en route to a 2014-15 All-Rookie Second Team selection.

The 7 ft., 280-lb big man used his burly body to bully his way into the lane, where he could use a hook shot or drop step to lay in easy buckets.

However, Nurkic fell out of rotation.

Part of his falling out was alleged pouting when things didn’t go his way; part of it was the emergence of Nikola Jokic as yet another basketball unicorn.