Trail Blazers Center Jusuf Nurkic Draws GQ Attention

This week Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic got attention for triple-doubles and team wins, but he also received a national profile in GQ for his diet regimen. After a grueling offseason of training and diet, Nurkic lost 35 Pounds in the summer of 2017. Although it became an adjustment to start the year, the load-off resulted in a career year for the big man and has continued thru this season as well.

The Bosnian Beast had fun with writer Chris Cason, talking about his habits and the things he still can’t go without on his cheat days:

When I had all the extra weight, it was a lot different. But now I’m where I want to be, and I’ve kept the weight off for more than a year...When I go to L.A., there is a restaurant called Il Piccolino—they have the best chocolate mousse in the world. I’m dead serious. It’s the best chocolate mousse I’ve ever tried.

Another treat mentioned by Nurkic was his love for coffee. As the main spokesman for the Stumptown Coffee, he explained how the drink plays a huge role in his pregame routine and his teammates:

I have to drink coffee right before games—I have a routine. During the second half of the season, you’ll see more guys having coffee 30 minutes before the game, or even right before tip-off.

(Earlier in the season, ESPN penned a story focused on the Blazers and their desire for coffee.).

Nurkic also spoke a little on how the game has changed for big men in the NBA:

I think that every ten years or so, the game switches up...Hopefully in a couple of years, or when someone beats Golden State, we can get back to real basketball, like the way it used to be.

Thanks to @KodyTarbe11 for covering this piece for us!