Jusuf Nurkic Announces Engagement to Girlfriend Emina Duric
Jusuf Nurkic is facing at least some degree of uncertainly this summer regarding his playing future. But as he deals with the Trail Blazers' coaching search and the possibility, no matter how slim, of continuing his career elsewhere, Nurkic's personal life seems more stable than ever.
The Bosnian Beast on Saturday announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Emina Duric, posting photos of his proposal on Instagram.
Not a bad to way to celebrate a birthday!
Nurkic and Duric have been a couple for several years. Like Nurkic, she hails from Tuzla, Bosnia.
While the pair no doubt have plans to spend plenty of time in their native country, Nurkic suggested recently that he'll always call Portland home, too. Responding to a fan's opinion that the Blazers would be open to trading him, Nurkic was politely defiant.
Nurkic made headlines following Portland's season-ending loss to the Denver Nuggets last week, openly questioning the state of his partially-guaranteed contract and offensive role with the team – even calling his future with the Blazers into open question.
"In my mind, this my seventh year in the league, try to be bigger for the team. Any type of role I was accepting from the coach," he said. "But it's really hard for me to speak about the future. Just all types of things going through my head right now. I'm gonna take a couple days off, then talk to my agent and see what's there for me – or where it's gonna be next."
General manager Neil Olshey has indicated he expects Nurkic to be back for 2021-22. Once the Blazers go through the formality of guaranteeing his contract for next season, they'll have the option of offering him a four-year, approximately $64 million contract extension.
No matter how his offseason goes from here, it's fair to say Nurkic's summer has already been plenty fruitful. Congratulations to he and Emina!