By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After the Portland Trail Blazers were defeated by the Indiana Pacers in the latest edition of NBA Sundays, Jusuf Nurkic confronted a young fan, grabbed his cell phone, and tossed it. The postgame incident was captured on video and shared via an Instagram story.
Jusuf Nurkić tossed a fans phone court side #Pacers
(IG: sheebswrld) pic.twitter.com/2BLKZsquLW
— Barstool Indy (@barstoolindy) March 21, 2022
The fan held the phone apparently keen on taking a video or photograph. However, he addressed the Bosnian center and the latter took the phone and threw it deeper in the stands. The fan asked him why he threw the phone before stadium security stepped in to prevent further actions. It remains unclear why Nurkic crossed the court and made his way toward the fan. Actually, he posed for a picture with another fan, as displayed on a post shared on Twitter.
Thank you @bosnianbeast27 for the signed jersey and picture ? @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/Yw3tE1yi4k
— Mirnes (@MTursunovic41) March 21, 2022
Upon an investigation on the incident by the NBA, he is likely to pay a fine.
Nurkic, 27, has been sidelined for more than one month due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He was in street clothes supporting his team at Bainbridge Fieldhouse. Therefore, he was not available to comment on the incident.
The Blazers were blown out by the Pacers and dropped to 26-44, 3.5 games outside the Play-In zone of the Western Conference. It marked the tenth loss in the eleven games without Nurkic. Before being forced to the injury list, he averaged 15.0 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks per contest over 56 appearances as a member of the Blazers’ starting five.
Photo Credit: Getty Images