By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crvena Zvezda won the 2023/24 ABA League title, sweeping arch-rivals Partizan in the Finals 3-0, but prior to the match, an incident occurred in the Belgrade Arena halls.
Partizan’s James Nunnally and Crvena Zvezda’s Stefan Lazarevic were involved in a fighting incident, and the experienced US player issued a statement regarding what happened.
“I Am Who I Am. Not Who You Think I Am. Not Who You Want Me To Be. I Am Me.
Fabrication and manipulation weren’t necessary in this situation since there is HARD video evidence that revealed I had to protect myself from an aggressive individual. After attempting to de-escalate the situation I felt coming, with my back (literally) against the wall and a hand around my neck with a fist flying my way, I had no other choice but to separate myself from him. There is no animosity towards him at all; I hope he is well.
Any narrative about myself not including being a solid and honest human being cannot be true nor will be accepted. Never will I be perfect and I’m not striving for that, just learning from mistakes while holding myself accountable to become better from those past mistakes. I am not racist, by the way, for those people who’ve been telling me I’m racist while calling me black monkey, sending me bananas (love them in smoothies, not my favorite choice, though), and countless amounts of N-words and threats. Through it all, it won’t affect my opinion of the other great Serbian people I’ve built relationships with during my time here. Interpret this however you’d like, just know your opinions of me don’t change the opinions of those who really know and love me.
Nothing real can be threatened, nothing unreal exists,” Nunnally wrote.
Partizan’s coach, Zeljko Obradovic, also spoke about the incident at the press conference after the ABA Finals defeat, claiming it was his decision not to play the US forward in what proved to be the last game of the season in the regional championship for the 2023/24 season.