COLOGNE (Germany) - Jusuf Nurkic and Dzanan Musa share a collective duty at the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, namely being the leading force for Bosnia and Herzegovina. But the two national heroes are still working on building up a bond the team hopes can lead to great things.

The Portland Trail Blazers' big man Nurkic and the Real Madrid wing Musa have only played together in eight FIBA games dating back to the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers in September 2016. And the two most recent games - Bosnia and Herzegovina's last window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers were the first time they hooked up on the court since two games in the previous cycle of World Cup Qualifiers in September 2018.

"WE JUST HAVE TO BE AT OUR BEST AND SHOW THE TEAM THAT WE CAN PLAY LIKE WE DID AGAINST FRANCE." - Nurkic

"It's a great feeling being a leader. I have Jusuf on my side right now. He helps me a lot with that leadership and everything, It's great to have these guys around and it's very competitive, but it's not hard to be their leader. It's enjoyable," Musa said.

 "We're working on it every day," the 28-year-old Nurkic said of his bond with the 23-year-old Musa. "We haven't had a chance to play together very much. We're working on it. I had a couple of sit-downs with him and talked about trying to be the best example for the guys and just try to do it the right way. If we can lead this team - and we definitely can - we just have to be our best and show the team that we can play like we did against France."

The "against France" Nurkic was referring to was Bosnia and Herzegovina's thrilling 96-90 double overtime victory over the French on August 27 in the European Qualifiers for the World Cup.

 
"We have a really good squad, and we really feel great about ourselves. And that's what we showed against France. When we are at our best, we can play with the best," said Nurkic, who collected 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in the showdown of teams drawn together in Group B in Cologne.

"(The victory over France) helps us a lot. France are among the favorites, and to have a win against them that means you can play against any team. It's satisfying to know you can complete against the best teams and beat them. We want to pass the group and see what we can do," added Musa, who picked up 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists against France.

Adin Vrbac is the only member of the Balkan squad who played at the country's last EuroBasket appearance back in  2015, and the 28-year-old said this edition of the team will be looking to Nurkic and Musa to lead them.

"Between them it's important that they understand how important they are for the whole team and to fit into those positions, to fit into the team and everything will function good," Vrbac said.

The team's captain Miralem Halilovic added that Musa has fully been accepted as a leader since he joined the senior national team as a teenager. But he will need to work together with Nurkic in Cologne in order to get to Bosnia and Herezgovina to the Knockout Phase in Berlin.

"He's been one of our leaders basically since he stepped into the national team. When he was 18 he was already starting games. His character, his personality he's there. Whichever team he comes to he will be a leader and for sure on this team he's one of the most important people - along with Jusuf. For sure they will be crucial for our team," said the 31-year-old Halilovic, who has been with the senior national team since 2011 but did not play at EuroBasket 2015.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and France faced off on the continental stage seven years ago as well with the French winning 81-54 in Montpellier, France and eventually taking third place while the Balkan side collected just an 86-84 overtime win over Israel for a 1-4 record in the group stage.

Despite being in a challenging group with France, hosts Germany, Hungary, Lithuania and reigning champions Slovenia, the 2022 edition of Bosnia and Herzegovina have no intentions of leaving the tournament after the Group Phase. But they can only reach the Round of 16 in Berlin if their two leaders Jusuf Nurkic and Dzanan Musa team up to show them the way.

FIBA