EuroBasket always delivers its share of drama, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Jusuf Nurkic has added fuel to the fire before facing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece. The Utah Jazz big man didn’t mince words when breaking down his defensive strategy, bluntly saying Giannis “sucks” when he’s forced into half-court jump shots and taken out of transition.
As per Giorgos Kyriakidis of Basket News:
“But at the end of the day, just stop him in transition and live with his shots. Generally, he’s sucked at those defenses the last few years he’s played in EuroBasket. But it’s not only him, so we will be ready.”
It was a surprisingly direct shot at one of basketball’s most dominant players, but it also highlighted the differences between NBA and FIBA basketball. In the NBA, Giannis thrives in space, where shooters like Brook Lopez open the floor and defensive three-second violations prevent opposing bigs from camping in the paint.
In FIBA rules, there’s no such restriction, meaning defenders can stay planted under the rim, creating traffic that limits Giannis’ bulldozing drives.
Nurkic knows the challenge well. The two-time MVP has torched Bosnia in the past and has opened EuroBasket 2025 on fire, scoring 31 points against Italy and 27 against Georgia while shooting an absurd 74 percent. Yet Nurkic insisted that the blueprint to slow him down is simple in concept, even if difficult to execute in practice:
“You’ve got to build the wall, slow him down on the fast break, that’s his number one thing to do.”
The Bosnian center’s confidence comes at a time when his team desperately needs a spark. Bosnia sits at 1–2 in group play, facing elimination if they cannot upset Greece. Greece, meanwhile, is undefeated and looking every bit like a medal contender with Giannis leading the charge. For Nurkic, limiting transition baskets and daring Antetokounmpo to shoot is the only realistic path forward.
Giannis’ jumper has always been the subject of debate. In the NBA, teams often sag off him, clogging the lane and forcing him to settle for outside shots. His shooting percentages from mid-range and deep have remained below average, but his sheer force, playmaking, and relentlessness usually make up for it.
In FIBA play, where spacing is tighter, those weaknesses are magnified. Nurkic’s comments may have been blunt, but they reflect a strategy that’s been tried for years: shrink the floor, dare Giannis to shoot, and pray he doesn’t find his rhythm.
Whether Nurkic’s plan pays off remains to be seen. Giannis has turned criticism into fuel before, and few things motivate him more than being publicly called out. If history is any indication, Bosnia’s “build a wall” approach could just end up on the wrong side of another Giannis highlight reel.
