Maybe comparing UCLA freshman Nikola Kusturica to a younger version of NBA All-Stars Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t going far enough.

“This might sound a little cocky,” Kusturica said Tuesday with a smile when relayed the comparison made by teammate Xavier Booker, “but I think I’m also a little better passer.”

Kusturica would know. The 17-year-old small forward who is projected as a top pick in the 2028 NBA Draft spent some time this summer working out with Antetokounmpo. He was struck by the 10-time All-Star’s relentless approach.

“To see how an NBA star is working like he’s hungry and he has everything already,” Kusturica said, “that was a big thing for me.”

He carries that drive with him everywhere. Stopping Kusturica from getting onto the court might be as hard as preventing one of his silky drives toward the basket.

Bruins coach Mick Cronin barred his top recruit from an extra workout this summer after noticing he was starting to wear down a bit from lengthy practices and additional evening sessions with team managers.

“He goes hard, he never subs out,” Cronin said of a player who is expected to become an immediate starter. “He acts like a senior as far as that goes. … I have got to manage him as far as how to get through this, but he’s so driven to be a great player.”

Of course, hard work isn’t the half of it when it comes to what Kusturica brings the Bruins.

His impossibly long arms and legs give the impression that he’s even taller than his listed height of 6 feet 9. During the brief portion of practice Tuesday that reporters were allowed to observe, Kusturica used those limbs to effortlessly poke away a ball and smother anyone who tried to drive around him.

In every movement, he was determined and confident. On a roster that includes plenty of juniors and seniors, it would have been nearly impossible to spot the freshman if one didn’t know his identity.

“It’s really, really hard,” Cronin said, “to grasp that he’s 17.” 

Kusturica’s precociousness was on full display this summer when he averaged a team-leading 24.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in seven games for his native Serbia at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup. He also won the Best Defensive Player award, adding 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

Making that performance exponentially more impressive was that it came after only a handful of practices following an injury that had sidelined him for three months.

“I saw what I can do when I’m not physically ready,” said Kusturica, who dropped 37 points and nine rebounds on the United States in the gold medal game. “So, yeah, it was a confidence booster.”

As recently as five months ago, the plan was for Kusturica (pronounced koo-ster-EET-zah) to continue playing for his Spanish professional team, FC Barcelona, before heading to the NBA.

Then he learned that college might be a possibility. As he weighed offers from UCLA, Kentucky, Michigan and Gonzaga, Kusturica became increasingly sold on the idea of developing under Cronin for two seasons before he could fulfill NBA draft-age requirements.

“I just like what the coach and other staff members had to say,” Kusturica said, “about my growth over the two years that I will probably be here.”

Cronin and his staff, in turn, were amazed by Kusturica’s competitive fire.

“Look, he wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t have a great attitude,” Cronin said. “Because of the way the recruiting world is, you know, you get told certain things. Other schools try to scare you, you know. And it backfired on all of them with him.

“So he wanted to be coached. He didn’t want to be lied to. So it played right into our hands. It was beautiful.”

Declining a call-up from the Serbian National Team to remain at UCLA this summer, Kusturica worked out with his new teammates and began forging connections that could pay off all season. Perhaps the only thing he lacks is a nickname.

How about the Serbian Savior?

“I think it’s nice,” Kusturica said with a chuckle, “I don’t know.” 

Knowing that he’ll need to strengthen a wiry frame that’s listed at 205 pounds to compete in the Big Ten, Kusturica has already added some muscle through conditioning sessions with athletic performance coach Dave Andrews.

He believes that UCLA provides his best path to a successful NBA career.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity,” Kusturica said, “because just being in college, playing with older guys and being in that type of system I think is a big thing, and I think we’ll for sure develop better than we would back in Spain, 100%.”

The one constant? He was barred from extra workouts overseas as well, a hard worker forced to take it easy for his own good.

“I had the same thing happen in Spain and Barcelona,” Kusturica said. “They wouldn’t let me in the gym.”