Aaron Gordon vs Jusuf Nurkić: who to start in Week 3
Aaron Gordon plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jusuf Nurkić 4. For that week alone, start Aaron Gordon: 85.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jusuf Nurkić. Over the season, Jusuf Nurkić leads in points leagues (33.5 fantasy points a game to 28.3) and Aaron Gordon in 9-cat leagues (127th against 132nd). The two go close together on our board, which is our own ranking order from 2025-26 and 2026-27 box scores, not ADP.
Updated Nov 2, 10:35 PM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #110
- 28.3 FP/G, slot 10.02, $8
- 9-cat leagues
- #127
- -1.8 z, slot 11.07, $5
The pick in 9-cat leagues.
- Points leagues
- #62
- 33.5 FP/G, slot 6.02, $16
- 9-cat leagues
- #132
- -2.0 z, slot 11.12, $4
Out (Foot)
The pick in points leagues.
The call
Points leagues: Jusuf Nurkić. 33.5 fantasy points per game against 28.3, 62nd on our board to 110th.
9-cat leagues: Aaron Gordon instead, -1.8 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (127th to 132nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Aaron Gordon is ahead in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Jusuf Nurkić in 5 (REB, AST, STL, BLK and FG%).
Per 36 minutes, Jusuf Nurkić produces more: 45.6 fantasy points to 35.8, on 26.4 minutes a night against 28.5. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Aaron Gordon plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jusuf Nurkić 4. For that week alone, start Aaron Gordon: 85.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jusuf Nurkić.
Slots are where our board's order lands in a 12-team snake draft (round.pick), and dollars are auction value over replacement for 12 teams with $200 each. Neither is ADP: no free draft-position feed lets us republish it.
Per game, side by side
| Per game | Aaron Gordon | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 28.3 | 33.5 |
| Minutes | 28.5 | 26.4 |
| PointsPTS | 15.3 | 10.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 5.9 | 10.4 |
| AssistsAST | 2.8 | 4.8 |
| StealsSTL | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.3 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 1.7 | 0.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 46.8% | 50.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 78.9% | 54.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.1 | 2.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 36 | 41 |
Bold is the better number. The line blends 2025-26 with 2026-27 games as they are played, the same numbers the rankings use.
Per 36 minutes
| Per 36 | Aaron Gordon | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 35.8 | 45.6 |
| Points | 19.4 | 14.9 |
| Rebounds | 7.4 | 14.1 |
| Assists | 3.5 | 6.5 |
| Steals | 0.9 | 1.7 |
| Blocks | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| Threes | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Turnovers | 1.4 | 3.4 |
Each per-game number divided by minutes and scaled to 36: the rate a bigger role would carry.
9-category z-scores
| Category | Aaron Gordon | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.2 | -1.0 |
| ReboundsREB | +0.0 | +2.0 |
| AssistsAST | -0.5 | +0.5 |
| StealsSTL | -0.8 | +0.6 |
| BlocksBLK | -0.9 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | -0.0 | -1.1 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | -0.2 | +0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -0.2 | -2.2 |
| TurnoversTO | +1.0 | -0.6 |
| Total | -1.8 | -2.0 |
Each number is standard deviations above or below the top 156 players (a 12-team league's rosters). Field goal and free throw percentage are weighted by attempts, and turnovers count against.
If you punt a category
Punting points, threes, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Jusuf Nurkić.
| Punt | Aaron Gordon | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.6 (#148) | -1.0 (#108) |
| REB | -2.0 (#138) | -4.2 (#265) |
| AST | -1.4 (#125) | -2.6 (#182) |
| STL | -1.1 (#102) | -2.6 (#173) |
| BLK | -1.3 (#106) | -2.0 (#130) |
| 3PM | -1.8 (#139) | -0.7 (#81) |
| FG% | -1.9 (#125) | -3.0 (#162) |
| FT% | -1.7 (#128) | +0.3 (#47) |
| TO | -3.0 (#140) | -1.4 (#98) |
Value is the sum of the other eight z-scores, recomputed with the punted category left out of the pool that sets them; the rank is among all 432 ranked players.
Week 3 (Nov 2-8)
- Aaron Gordon: 3 games (Mon POR, Wed TOR, Sat @IND).
- Jusuf Nurkić: 4 games (Mon @SAS, Wed @NOP, Fri @DAL, Sun @MIN), listed Out.
Recent games
- Aaron Gordon: 23.5 fantasy points a game over his last 6 of 2026-27, against 28.3 on the board.
- Jusuf Nurkić: 39.8 fantasy points a game over his last 10 of 2025-26, against 33.5 on the board.
Other picks at the same spot
NBA fantasy rankings · Draft cheat sheet · Sleepers
Is Aaron Gordon playing tonight? · Is Jusuf Nurkić playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Aaron Gordon, Jusuf Nurkić
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Aaron Gordon or Jusuf Nurkić?
Points leagues: Jusuf Nurkić. 33.5 fantasy points per game against 28.3, 62nd on our board to 110th. 9-cat leagues: Aaron Gordon instead, -1.8 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (127th to 132nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Aaron Gordon or Jusuf Nurkić?
Category by category, Aaron Gordon is ahead in 4 (PTS, 3PM, FT% and TO) and Jusuf Nurkić in 5 (REB, AST, STL, BLK and FG%).
Who should I start in Week 3, Aaron Gordon or Jusuf Nurkić?
Aaron Gordon plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jusuf Nurkić 4. For that week alone, start Aaron Gordon: 85.0 projected fantasy points to 0.0 for Jusuf Nurkić.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 2, 2026 at 10:35 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number