Dzanan Musa recounts a phone call from a rival

You’d think he’d have called Rodions Kurucs, but nope, Kristaps Porzingis didn’t call his fellow Latvian on Draft Night. Instead, the call went to Dzanan Musa of Bosnia.

“He encouraged me to just go for it,’’ Musa told The Post’s Marc Berman on Sunday at the NBA’s rookie orientation. It turns out the two Europeans have older brothers who played against each other.

How do we know that Porzingis didn’t call Kurucs? The day after the Draft, the 20-year-old Latvian told the media that he had only spoken with Porzingis once but that he looked forward to talking with him ... and playing against him “and beat his ass.”

Musa also spoke about his budding mentor/protege’ relationship with D’Angelo Russell.

“He’s a superstar and when a superstar calls you as a rookie to come to your house to talk to you and be his friend, that’s a really human, good thing about him,’’ Musa told Berman. “He’s a really nice person, really good player. I look forward to playing with him.’’

It’s all part of DLo’s new appreciation of his role as a leader on the Nets.

Musa was the Nets rep at the rookie orientation, getting his picture taken and hanging out with his fellow rookies. He also shared his thrill at getting a gift, an autographed Kobe Bryant jersey. Bryant sent each of the rookies one, but for Musa, it was a bigger deal. Kobe was his favorite player growing up because of his “killer” instinct.

Musa, of course, was also featured in a documentary, “Something in the Water,” about Balkans basketball that premiered this week at the Sarajevo Film Festival in Bosnia. Although the documentary followed both he and Luka Doncic, it’s no exaggeration to say Musa stole the show.

• Kristaps Porzingis had these words of wisdom for Nets rookie - Marc Berman - New York Post