By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The whole saga about Novak Djokovic and his effort to play in the Australian Open echoed throughout the whole world, with many athletes from various sports giving their opinions.
However, not much of that came from the NBA, a league that has had some of its own issues when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic and which has seen a smaller number of players deciding against vaccinating themselves. Most notably Kyrie Irving who just recently played his first games this season and is still only allowed to play only on the road.
Nonetheless, one player decided to share his view on the whole ordeal and it was the Montenegrin big man Nikola Vucevic.
“What happened to Djokovic is just politicians using their power to show off and get extra followers. It has nothing to do with Covid or visa issues, they used him to try to make themselves look better. Very sad how they treated a First Class Champion!”, Vucevic wrote via Twitter and added.
“Also to me the saddest thing in this whole Djokovic thing was that only two of his colleagues stood by his side, everyone else got scared…unbelievable.”
As a reminder, Novak Djokovic entered Australia believing that he compiled all the necessary documents for his medical exemption and would be allowed to compete normally in the tournament.
However, after a rough treatment by the authorities, Djokovic had his Visa canceled. He succeeded in overturning the decision on the court and started preparing for the tournament, but the Australian immigration minister Alex Hawke used his right to deport Djokovic on the grounds of being a danger to public health.
“I consider that Mr Djokovic’s ongoing presence in Australia may lead to an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment generated in the Australian community, potentially leading to an increase in civil unrest of the kind previously experienced in Australia with rallies and protests which may themselves be a source of community transmission,” minister Hawke explained his reasons for deporting Djokovic but some inconsistencies in the tennis star’s movement prior to entering the country, as well as his papers, didn’t help the case either.