Ivica Zubac vs Jusuf Nurkić: who to start in Week 3
Ivica Zubac plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jusuf Nurkić 4, an even 0.0 projected fantasy points each. Over the season, Jusuf Nurkić leads in points leagues (33.5 fantasy points a game to 30.5) and Ivica Zubac in 9-cat leagues (131st 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 3, 12:36 AM ET. Rechecked every 30 minutes.
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- Points leagues
- #89
- 30.5 FP/G, slot 8.05, $11
- 9-cat leagues
- #131
- -1.9 z, slot 11.11, $4
Out (Ankle)
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 30.5, 62nd on our board to 89th.
9-cat leagues: Ivica Zubac instead, -1.9 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (131st to 132nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Category by category, Ivica Zubac is ahead in 5 (PTS, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Jusuf Nurkić in 3 (AST, STL and 3PM).
Per 36 minutes, Jusuf Nurkić produces more: 45.6 fantasy points to 38.3, on 26.4 minutes a night against 28.7. He does it in fewer minutes, so a bigger role would widen the gap.
Ivica Zubac plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jusuf Nurkić 4, an even 0.0 projected fantasy points each.
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 | Ivica Zubac | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points per game | 30.5 | 33.5 |
| Minutes | 28.7 | 26.4 |
| PointsPTS | 13.3 | 10.9 |
| ReboundsREB | 10.3 | 10.4 |
| AssistsAST | 2.0 | 4.8 |
| StealsSTL | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| BlocksBLK | 0.9 | 0.5 |
| Threes3PM | 0.0 | 0.6 |
| Field goal %FG% | 59.8% | 50.3% |
| Free throw %FT% | 68.6% | 54.9% |
| TurnoversTO | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Games, 2025-26 | 48 | 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 | Ivica Zubac | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy points | 38.3 | 45.6 |
| Points | 16.6 | 14.9 |
| Rebounds | 13.0 | 14.1 |
| Assists | 2.6 | 6.5 |
| Steals | 0.4 | 1.7 |
| Blocks | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| Threes | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| Turnovers | 2.2 | 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 | Ivica Zubac | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| PointsPTS | -0.6 | -1.0 |
| ReboundsREB | +1.9 | +2.0 |
| AssistsAST | -0.9 | +0.5 |
| StealsSTL | -2.0 | +0.6 |
| BlocksBLK | +0.4 | -0.3 |
| Threes3PM | -1.7 | -1.1 |
| Field goal percentageFG% | +1.7 | +0.3 |
| Free throw percentageFT% | -1.0 | -2.2 |
| TurnoversTO | +0.2 | -0.6 |
| Total | -1.9 | -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, blocks, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnovers flips the 9-cat answer to Jusuf Nurkić.
| Punt | Ivica Zubac | Jusuf Nurkić |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | -1.3 (#129) | -1.0 (#108) |
| REB | -4.2 (#264) | -4.2 (#265) |
| AST | -1.1 (#106) | -2.6 (#182) |
| STL | -0.1 (#60) | -2.6 (#173) |
| BLK | -2.7 (#160) | -2.0 (#130) |
| 3PM | -0.2 (#62) | -0.7 (#81) |
| FG% | -4.3 (#224) | -3.0 (#162) |
| FT% | -0.9 (#92) | +0.3 (#47) |
| TO | -2.4 (#124) | -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)
- Ivica Zubac: 3 games (Mon ATL, Wed @MEM, Sat DEN), 1 back-to-back, listed Out.
- Jusuf Nurkić: 4 games (Mon @SAS, Wed @NOP, Fri @DAL, Sun @MIN), listed Out.
Recent games
- Ivica Zubac: 23.1 fantasy points a game over his last 3 of 2026-27, against 30.5 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 Ivica Zubac playing tonight? · Is Jusuf Nurkić playing tonight?
Rookie cards: Jusuf Nurkić
Common questions
Who is better for the rest of the 2026-27 season, Ivica Zubac or Jusuf Nurkić?
Points leagues: Jusuf Nurkić. 33.5 fantasy points per game against 30.5, 62nd on our board to 89th. 9-cat leagues: Ivica Zubac instead, -1.9 in summed z-scores against -2.0 (131st to 132nd), because the categories pay for a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Ivica Zubac or Jusuf Nurkić?
Category by category, Ivica Zubac is ahead in 5 (PTS, BLK, FG%, FT% and TO) and Jusuf Nurkić in 3 (AST, STL and 3PM).
Who should I start in Week 3, Ivica Zubac or Jusuf Nurkić?
Ivica Zubac plays 3 games in Week 3 (Nov 2-8), Jusuf Nurkić 4, an even 0.0 projected fantasy points each.
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Nov 3, 2026 at 12:36 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number