Tag: Jusuf Nurkic

Draymond Green takes shot at Jusuf Nurkic after Suns get swept in first round of playoffs

The Suns center has posted a 3-17 record in 20 career playoff games.

During the Golden State Warriors’ 119-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns, Draymond Green was ejected from the contest. Green hit Jusuf Nurkic’s head while battling for position resulting in a flagrant two foul and an ejection.

After the game, Nurkic famously said, “I hope that brother gets the help he needs.” Since their incident in December, Nurkic and Green have had a back-and-forth battle throughout the season, with each player taking shots at each other on social media.

Fast forward to the playoffs, after the Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, Green didn’t waste any time taking a shot at Nurkic.

Green shared a graphic of Nurkic’s historically bad playoff winning percentage with the same line the Suns center used in his postgame press conference in December.

Via @TheWarriorsTalk on Twitter:

In 20 career playoff games, Nurkic has posted a 3-17 record.

Along with his social media shot, Green called Nurkic “The Big Softie,” on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”

During the Timberwolves’ four-game sweep of the Suns, Nurkic averaged 7.8 points on 50% shooting from the field with 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Kevin Durant posted a Real Housewives meme after his kerfuffle with Grant Williams

This is such a perfect use of the woman yelling at cat meme by KD.

There is no denying that 13-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant has a sense of humor, especially when he is online.

But he is also incredibly competitive and we saw that manifest yet again on Wednesday when the Suns defeated the Mavericks in a rivalry match between two teams that already have a history of beef with one another.

Many will remember this game because Dallas star Luka Doncic complained about a fan and asked for him to get ejected. Before that, however, Durant and teammate Jusuf Nurkic were involved in an altercation with Mavericks forward Grant Williams.

As part of the kerfuffle, players from the Mavericks and Suns had to get separated once tensions flared.

Fortunately, this led to nothing more than technical fouls issued to Durant as well as Nurkic and Williams. So fans were able to laugh about how silly this looked when it was all said and done.

Jasmine Watkins shared a side-by-side screengrab of the dust-up next to the famous meme of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Taylor Armstrong screaming. (You will often see this image next to a cat.)

Durant saw the mashup of his emotive response next to Armstrong’s and shared it on his Instagram story.

Bravo, KD. He handled this one like an absolute champion.

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NBA players react to tragic passing of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic

Following the tragic passing of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, players from around the league paid tribute on social media.

On Wednesday, Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic tragically passed away after suffering a heart attack at a team dinner in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Serbian native coached alongside Steve Kerr for three seasons, winning a championship in the Bay Area in 2022. Prior to joining the Warriors, Milojevic had a decorated career in Europe as a player and coach. Milojevic coached multiple future NBA players, including fellow Serbian Nikola Jokic. As a player, Milojevic was named ABA Most Valuable Player three times.

After the Warriors announced Milojevic’s death in Utah, players around the league took to X, formerly known as Twitter, with heartfelt reactions and tributes to the Warriors’ assistant coach.

Members of the Warriors, such as Brandin Podziemski and Lester Quinones, shared reactions. Luka Doncic, Lauri Markkanen and Karl-Anthony Towns were among those who paid tribute to the Golden State assistant coach.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

Draymond Green suspended indefinitely for flagrant foul on Jusuf Nurkic

Draymond Green suspended indefinitely for flagrant foul on Jusuf Nurkic

As is often the case, Michigan State basketball legend Draymond Green is the center of controversy in the NBA and dominating headlines. The polarizing star of the Golden State Warriors was back in the spotlight on Tuesday night when he got a flagrant foul after striking Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic.

It was reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday night that the NBA will suspending Green indefinitely.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

WATCH: Draymond Green ejected for flagrant foul on Jusuf Nurkic, gives explanation for what happened

Draymond Green ejected for flagrant foul on Jusuf Nurkic, gives explanation for what happened

Once again, Michigan State basketball legend Draymond Green is making headlines around the league. On Tuesday night, Green was ejected from the Golden State Warriors match-up versus the Phoenix Suns after appearing to hit Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkic in the face.

Love him or hate him, Draymond keeps people talking and entertained at all times. You can watch the play below:

Draymond insisted after the game that the hit was unintentional:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Jusuf Nurkic was genuinely glad he wasn’t ‘choked’ by Draymond Green like Rudy Gobert was

Nurkic shared his thoughts after Draymond Green hit him.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected on Tuesday after hitting Phoenix Suns big Jusuf Nurkic.

The flagrant foul on Nurkic in the third quarter of the loss against the Suns could lead to another suspension for the four-time NBA champion. He was previously suspended this season for putting Minnesota Timberwolves big Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.

To that point, the five-game absence was the longest suspension he had received in his professional career. But the discipline for Green’s actions against Nurkic may warrant a longer time away from his team.

After the game, meanwhile, Nurkic shared his thoughts about the incident.

“What’s going on with him? I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he [didn’t] try to choke me. But at the same, it ain’t nothing to do with basketball.”

Nurkic added that he hopes that whatever is going on in Green’s life “gets better” soon.

Of course, this was a dangerous play from Green that could have seriously hurt Nurkic. But this was an interesting perspective from the NBA veteran who also seemed grateful to avoid a chokehold from the former Defensive Player of the Year.

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Draymond Green deserves at least a 10-game suspension for hitting Jusuf Nurkic thanks to history

Hitting Jusuf Nurkic, whether accidental or not, isn’t the point. It’s time for the league to crack down.

Draymond Green can claim all he wants that he didn’t mean to clock Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Tuesday night in the Golden State Warriors’ loss to the Phoenix Suns.

But he’s responsible for his body and his actions, and swinging his arm wildly while maybe trying to get a call on Nurkic and ending up with his arm slamming into the Suns’ forward’s head was indeed excessive.

And it deserves a 10-game suspension. At least.

Yes, Green has done worse. Choking Rudy Gobert was horrible, and for that, he received the longest suspension of his career with five games off, with his history increasing that number, per the league. Our Mike Sykes wrote at the time that it didn’t feel like enough, and I felt the same.

So here we are with another incident.

Green claims he didn’t “intend to hit him” and was trying to sell the call (but he’s “not a flopper.” Not the point to argue right now, but: really?):

This is an easy call. He needs at least 10 games off. Enough is enough.

Enough was enough before the Gobert choke and now it’s beyond enough. Green has proven that he’s willing to push the boundaries of safety on the court even if it costs him a few games off, and Adam Silver’s last suspension felt like a warning that there could be more for behavior like this. It should be.

Ten games is an eighth of the season, enough to send the message that you can’t go around choking players in scrums or hitting opponents in the face (Green has lost the benefit of the doubt when it comes to claiming it was accidental). This particular incident isn’t the point.

The point is that Green has gone too far overall, that you can’t do all of this in the NBA, and that it’s time for him to stop.

NBA Twitter reacts to Draymond Green being ejected after hitting Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic in face

See what fans and analysts were saying on Twitter after Draymond Green was ejected against the Suns after hitting Jusuf Nurkic.

For the third time this season and the 19th time in his career, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from a game.

With the Warriors holding a five-point lead over the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter on Tuesday night, Green spun toward Jusuf Nurkic, hitting him directly in the face. Nurkic fell to the floor before officials decided to review the incident. Green and Nurkic appeared to be battling for position while the Warriors attempted an inbound play on the sideline.

Via @NBCSWarriors on Twitter:

Green was later assessed a flagrant two foul and was ejected from the game. Green was also ejected against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Minnesota Timberwolves. Each game Green has been ejected from resulted in a loss for the Warriors. After being ejected for choking Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Green was suspended for five games.

With Green in the locker room, the Suns stole the lead and went on to deal the Warriors a 119-116 loss in Phoenix. Before being ejected, Green tallied two points, two assists and two rebounds in 17 minutes.

Following Green’s ejection, the NBA community on X, formerly known as Twitter, erupted. Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying Tuesday night:

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

Here is everything the Trail Blazers have received in return for Damian Lillard (so far)

This is MUCH better than what Miami reportedly offered.

After months of speculation, the Portland Trail Blazers traded Damian Lillard. In return, they have received a hefty package of players and picks.

The seven-time All-Star was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade involving the Phoenix Suns. He was traded alongside former teammates Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little and Keon Johnson.

In return, the Trail Blazers received a package centered around Milwaukee’s Jrue Holiday. Portland, however, then re-routed Holiday to the Boston Celtics and landed two helpful players (Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon) and additional draft assets.

RELATED: The fallout from the Damian Lillard trade might have the Trail Blazers in big trouble with the NBA

Portland sends:

  • Damian Lillard
  • Jusuf Nurkic (to PHX)
  • Nassir Little (to PHX)
  • Keon Johnson (to PHX)

 

Portland receives: 

  • Deandre Ayton (via Suns)
  • Robert Williams (via Celtics)
  • Malcolm Brogdon (via Celtics)
  • Toumani Camara (via Suns)
  • 2024 1st-round pick (via Warriors)
  • 2029 1st-round pick (via Bucks)
  • 2029 1st-round pick (via Celtics)
  • Two first-round pick swaps with Bucks (2028, 2030)

So that’s three first-round picks and two pick swaps as well as a former No. 1 pick (Ayton) and other valuable assets.

Meanwhile, the package could grow a bit more before it is all said and done. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Trail Blazers are expected to keep Williams to pair alongside Ayton in the frontcourt.

However, the trade package could continue to grow if Brogdon is traded to another team before the season begins at the end of the month.

All things considered, this return is obviously much better than anything the Miami Heat reportedly offered.

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Mock trade has Nets trading for Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic

This mock trade has the Brooklyn Nets trading for Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic, even though the Nets getting Lillard is unlikely.

The Brooklyn Nets are currently regarded as a team who either will miss the playoffs or will have to go through the play-in tournament to get to the playoffs. Part of this offseason has been to make the team as formidable as possible for next season so that they have a better chance of making the playoffs outright.

When this summer began, some Brooklyn fans were hoping that the Nets would be able to get someone like Damian Lillard in the building in an attempt to fast-track this rebuild. However, Lillard has reportedly only been interested in playing for the Miami Heat for awhile now.

With that being said, Lillard is still a Portland Trail Blazer for now. That means that Brooklyn could still trade for him if Portland cares more about the trade package than where Lillard wants to go with training camp a few weeks away. This mock trade suggested by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report could be something interesting to ponder: