Jusuf Nurkić had his first Media Day as a member of the Phoenix Suns organization today. Nurkić answered a variety of different questions, primarily basketball-related, about his recent trade to the Suns. However, none of those questions were the ones that made headlines.
Nurkić was asked about something that he still questions about the United States. Instead of answering with a standard response, Nurkić took the time to question why the country has such an obsession with guns. Nurkić pushed the importance of protecting children and found guns counterproductive.
“I still don’t know why everybody has so many guns… A better world going forward will definitely be one without guns. All these wars around the world are definitely not good for anyone.”
Jusuf Nurkić
Nurkić had spent the last 7 years of his NBA career playing with the Portland Trail Blazers. Although he has played in the NBA for nearly a decade at this point, the ideals that many Americans have are something that still puzzles him.
Nurkić is a native of Bosnia. A place that while he can draw parallels to, he sees as very different in the way that Americans view guns. He would go on to stress the importance of protecting children around the world.
“Still don’t understand it to this day because I feel the kids should be safer in our schools.”
Jusuf Nurkić
Nurkić is far from the first NBA player to make comments about gun culture within the United States. While the Suns have been in the media cycle in large part due to their roster, the 29-year-old took the time to address an issue he deemed to be important. With Nurkić living in a different part of the United States now, it will be interesting to see how his opinions could potentially change.
