For much of this season, Rodions Kurucs has been relegated to an insurance policy, used in case of emergency.

That emergency has arrived, with David Nwaba’s season-ending Achilles injury putting him on the shelf for the decimated Nets.

“The period of time when I was on the court, basically next man up. Just got David’s minutes a little bit, trying to get some organization right now,” said Kurucs, 21. “Feels great now.”

This season hasn’t always felt great for Kurucs. He got into trouble before the season even started, an assault charge that’s still pending and will see him back in court next month.

And after playing in every one of the Nets’ first seven games, he’d appeared in just five of the next 20, a minute here, a cameo there. He spent the rest of the time with Long Island in the G-League.

“They just want me to get my rhythm in and make good decisions,” Kurucs said. “Why I didn’t play is because I didn’t shoot open shots, was getting turnovers out of that.

“That’s why they sent me [down], to get my rhythm back and get my feel for the game back. They want me to make the right decisions, make the right plays and make less turnovers.”

The Nets can only hope he has his rhythm back. When Nwaba got hurt Thursday in San Antonio, they dusted off Kurucs with a 1:03 stint. Then he logged 11:10 Saturday versus Atlanta, scoring six points on 3 of 3 shooting — the most he’d tallied since Game 2 of the season.

“Rodi stepped up the other night,” Kenny Atkinson said. “It seems like when we have a guy down, someone steps up.”

Kurucs hopes to be among those stepping up to fill the void left by Nwaba. He’s not an elite defender like Nwaba, but he’s taller, younger, has an improving jumper and has shown a penchant as an irritant.

“Just confidence. Just been shooting it in the G-League, too. I shot like six 3s a game so it’s just making that automatic. Getting the ball and shooting it every time I get it,” said Kurucs, 4 of 10 from 3.

“Last year was the same thing: We had all the injuries, then I started playing. So the same thing happens this year, it’s just next man up. I’m just always ready to play and help the team. I feel it’s the same thing this year. We just got to step up for each other.”

Kyrie Irving (shoulder) will miss a 19th straight game Thursday against the Knicks.

Nets Players Association rep Garrett Temple on Isaiah Thomas’ interaction with the abusive 76ers fan and the ensuing suspension: “Two-game suspension, I feel like that’s a lot. But the league can’t make someone say something or not, that’s the fan. … It’s up to the fans to change the way they respect the game and us as human beings.”