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Selecting the NBA All-Rookie Team

By Brad Rowland

Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) at the end of the game at Target Center. Lakers defeated the Wolves 101-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) and Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) at the end of the game at Target Center. Lakers defeated the Wolves 101-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) passes the ball during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) passes the ball during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Center – Jusuf Nurkic, Denver Nuggets

With apologies to Jusuf Nurkic, he was the most difficult inclusion. That isn’t a slight to his performance, but rather a hat-tip to the other four members of the first team, who have clearly separated themselves from the pack.

Still, Nurkic has put together a strong season as a 20-year-old rookie and he should be commended for that. The 7-footer stands behind only Nikola Mirotic in PER for the season (15.00) while averaging 6.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in only 17.9 minutes, and the production is such where you can see a high-end center in the future.

In the same breath, it feels as if we could have seen more from the big man from Bosnia. The Nuggets jettisoned both Timofey Mozgov and JaVale McGee in season, seemingly paving the way for Nurkic, but after an uptick in minutes (21.9 per game in January, 24.4 in February), new head coach Melvin Hunt has buried him a bit in the rotation.

Nurkic, at least at times, shows flashes of dominance on the block, but shooting just 45% from the floor isn’t acceptable for a player with his skill set, and that is a point of improvement. However, you can’t “teach” rebounding instinct, and Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 12.3 rebounds per 36 minutes, placing him in a top class of players, especially at his age.

There is nothing “wrong” with being the fifth wheel on the All-Rookie team, and playing center in a competent fashion often opens unforeseen doors. Jusuf Nurkic is pretty good, and with that, he gets the nod to fill out the roster.

Next: NBA Draft: 5 players who helped their stock during the NCAA Tournament

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