The happy couple got engaged back in June 2021

EMINA Duric is not your average basketball WAG, choosing selflessness over selfies as she helps run the Jusuf Nurkic Foundation.

Jusuf Nurkic may have begun playing basketball when he was just 14 years old, but just a few years later, he was selected as the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Jusuf Nurkić snaps a photo of his wife, Emina Duric Nurkić, smiling for the camera
Credit: Facebook/ emina duric

Who is Jusuf Nurkic’s wife, Emina Duric?

While Nurkić is just as popular for his personal life as he is for his career, boasting over 415,000 followers on Instagram, his wife, Emina Duric Nurkić prefers to keep things a bit more private.

Duric’s Instagram is notably private, an unusual move compared to other WAGs, or wives and girlfriends of professional athletes.

Like Nurkić, Duric is from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the two reportedly met in their joint hometown, Tuzla.

She was raised by her father, a surgeon, and her mother, a pharmacist, and has one brother.

In May 2023, Duric graduated from Oregon’s Pacific University with a master’s degree in business administration.

She was featured in the commencement ceremony, and Nurkić congratulated her on his Instagram.

According to her biography on the Jusuf Nurkic Foundation’s website, Duric lives with her husband, Nurkić, and enjoys “traveling” and “spending time with family and friends.”

The website also states that she “is committed to and passionate about protecting and advocating for the rights of women and children, and remains a champion of and for the health, wellness, and safety for all.”

Little is known about her career path, but she reportedly “provides critical and valuable insight and input into the priorities, culture, and systems of the foundation.”

The foundation “supports Jusuf and Emina’s dedication to making a difference in the lives of others.”

It’s “dedicated to creating sustainable change to improve the lives of youth, women, and the Bosnian community by providing access to healthcare, education, and various other community resources.”

Among other donations, the foundation has reportedly delivered 5,000 food packages to feed over 12,000 people, sent 25,000 PPE kits to hospitals in need, built three homes for single mothers and their families, and donated a mammogram machine to support clinical screening for women.

Despite juggling a busy schedule of basketball, higher education, and their philanthropic efforts, the couple still finds time to relax and have fun.

Nurkić often posts photos of the duo traveling across the world, taking trips to Dubai, Rwanda, and Croatia.

Duric, meanwhile, makes sure everyone knows that Nurkić is officially off the market.

How long has Jusuf Nurkic been married?

On June 12, 2021, Nurkić announced his engagement to Emina Duric on social media.

He posted a series of photos sharing the proposal on his Instagram, captioning the post: “Happy birthday. You are my happiness that covers all my scars.”

He added: “The best of you are those who are best to their wives. Love you.”

The longtime couple officially tied the knot a few years later, getting married in July 2023.

Nurkić and Duric’s wedding took place at Fort Lovrijenac in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Nurkić posted a series of photos of the celebratory weekend on his Instagram, from the couple enjoying a day in town to the duo dressed to the nines.

The couple’s wedding photographers and videographers, Emina and Vladan Gavric, also shared a behind-the-scenes look at the luxury wedding on their Instagram.

They captioned the post: “Finally sharing a few photos from this incredible two day wedding in one of the most epic venues – Lovrijenac fortress.”

“The wedding day started with couple’s getting ready on a private boat anchored near the venue and ended with one of the best parties (or should we say concerts?) we ever witnessed in Croatia.”

They concluded the post by tagging various vendors, from decor and flowers to hair, makeup, and styling, and the couple themselves: “Thank you for letting us be a part of your big day!”

Jusuf Nurkić #20 of the Phoenix Suns arrives to the arena before the game against the Brooklyn Nets on December 13, 2023, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona Credit: Getty

When did Jusuf Nurkic join the Phoenix Suns?

On September 27, 2023, Jusuf Nurkić was traded to the Phoenix Suns.

He made his Suns debut on October 24, 2023, scoring 14 points and 14 rebounds to secure a 108-104 win against the Golden State Warriors.

Weeks later on November 8, Nurkić scored 20 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists in a 116-115 overtime win against the Chicago Bulls.

Nurkić, who stands at 7 feet tall, started his professional career in October 2012, signing a contract with Croatian team Cedevita, a men’s basketball club.

In 2014, he was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year Award.

That same year, Nurkić was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2014 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Denver Nuggets later that night.

On February 13, 2017, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.

After a season-ending inury in 2019, which was further postponed with the suspension of the 2019-20 NBA season, Nurkić didn’t return to the court until July 31, 2020.

Nurkić resigned with the Trail Blazers on July 6, 2022, locking in a four-year, $70 million contract.

He was ultimately traded to the Suns in 2023.

Nurkić also plays internationally, representing the Bosnian national team.

He represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at EuroBasket 2022, also referred to as the European Basketball Championship, but was eliminated in the group stage.

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/9861242/jusuf-nurkic-married-wife-emina-duric/