Jusuf Nurkić just did something only one other player in Utah Jazz history has ever pulled off - and that player happens to be none other than the legendary “Pistol” Pete Maravich.
Yes, you read that right.
The 31-year-old center has strung together back-to-back triple-doubles, becoming just the second player in franchise history to do so. Maravich was the first. Now, Nurkić joins him in a club that’s as exclusive as it gets in NBA stat lore.
Here’s what Nurkić posted in his last two outings:
- 16 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists
- 17 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists
That’s not just production - that’s orchestration. Nurkić has always been a solid contributor, known for his rebounding and interior presence, but this level of playmaking? That’s new territory.
For context, Nurkić is averaging 11.1 points and 10.2 rebounds on the season - a steady double-double guy - but his assist numbers have seen a sudden and dramatic uptick. He's now averaging 4.8 assists per game, more than double his career average of 2.6.
That jump doesn’t just happen by accident. It’s a sign of a player seeing the floor differently, making decisions faster, and being trusted with more offensive responsibility.
And it’s not like he’s padding stats in garbage time. These are meaningful numbers, in competitive games, against real NBA defenses. The kind of performances that shift perceptions - not just of what Nurkić is, but of what he can be.
At 31, he’s deep into his career, but this stretch might be the best two-game run he’s ever had. It’s rare to see a veteran evolve this late in the game, but that’s exactly what’s happening here. Nurkić isn’t just cleaning the glass - he’s initiating offense, finding cutters, hitting shooters, and anchoring the flow of the offense from the center spot.
It’s the kind of all-around impact that makes you stop and say, “Wait, did Nurkić just do that again?”
And yes, you can call it Maravich-esque - not because their games are similar (they’re not), but because their names now sit side by side in the Jazz record books. And that alone is worth celebrating.