SerpApi.Org
Aside from the competitive standpoint and the highest level of basketball, the NBA has always been one of the best professional leagues in sports due to its off-court benefits.
Crucially, the lavish benefits and constant catering that the league offers its players are incomparable to those of any other professional league. Not to mention the enormous financial aspects of their contracts and endorsements.
However, as anywhere else, there's always somebody who stands out the most. In the case of NBA franchises, the biggest ones, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the Golden State Warriors, among others, cater to their players most, thus supporting their success.
For Jusuf Nurkic, however, the organization that stood out the most throughout his career is his current team, the Utah Jazz.
The best franchise to play for
To be fair, Nurk didn't suit up for the giants such as the Lakers or the Celtics, but he has played on a fair share of teams: the Denver Nuggets, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Phoenix Suns, the Charlotte Hornets, and now the Jazz.
Most of those are considered small-market teams but are popular in their own right, whether for their cities' external positives, like the climate or the franchise's historic icons.
Although the Jazz have had some notable players, like John Stockton and Karl Malone, they have never had anything else going for them, as they don't have a championship to their name, and the city often faces backlash for its racist fans, cold weather, and "boring" living conditions.
The franchise saw this early on and has been keen on providing its players with the best possible experience, which Nurkic applauded.
"Their the best organization I played for in my 12-year career" said Nurk. "Austin Ainge, Danny Ainge, the owner Ryan Smith, they just did a lot of small things that, you know, mean a lot. For example, this gas situation in the world, going to every home game, they fill the tank for our cars. They're taking our families seriously in the arena. The market, they're taking them to certain places, you know, hanging out and doing some stuff with them, which is helpful, right?"
Utah breaks the limits for an NBA franchise
As a 12-year veteran, Nurk saw most of what there is to see as an NBA player and how the organization works. The Jazz have always been at the top of his list, no matter his current experience or the one he had when he entered the league, which he feels obligated to point out to the newer generation.
"The kids, or the young guys on the team, I was having a hard time explaining to them, 'This is not the NBA. This is not every team.' It's such a unique situation to explain. Every team is a little different," Nurk added.
"I guess there is a certain standard teams shouldn't be below, but they are. When you have what you have, you wanna keep it that way. I think that was the hardest thing for me to explain to the young guys. This is elite, this is not everywhere else."
That foundation is what will set the Jazz apart when their young team begins to mature. Not only did they draft and scout great talent over the past few years, but their development program and player catering are what will set them apart years down the line. Hopefully for the fans, the title comes with it as well.
