Australian Olympic bronze medallist Dante Exum has been physique slammed to the court docket in a stunning incident that had a membership medico fearing a damaged backbone after his aspect’s EuroLeague playoff conflict descended into chaos.
Exum’s Partizan Belgrade led Real Madrid 95-80 with lower than two minutes to play within the recreation when a cynical foul by Madrid captain Sergio Llull on Partizan’s Kevin Punter ignited an all-in brawl.
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The 27-year-old Aussie star threw his arms up in protest as Llull and Punter received bodily earlier than stepping in to defend his teammate.
Former Boston Celtic Guerschon Yabusele – who has 40kg on Exum – barged into the fracas and violently drove the Aussie into the hardwood.
Exum, who suffered a bloodied mouth and damaged toe, needed to be helped from the ground, flanked by two teammates as he hopped down the race, and was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches.
“It is a serious physical injury, club medico Moma Jakovljevic told Mozzart Sport.
“The tendon in his toe has broken. His finger was injured and his mouth was bloody from a tooth injury.
“The way Jabusele threw him with a judo move, that’s for prison, for life suspension.
“As Jabusele threw him, Exum could have broken his spine, seriously injured his head and ended his career.
“This was terrible. I have never seen this in my life”.
WNBL PLAYERS CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE AS BA, OWNERS GO TO WAR
Exum’s harm, relying on restoration time, might throw a spanner within the works of Australia’s plans for the FIBA World Cup in August, given the 198cm guard would have been a key cog in coach Brian Goorjian’s squad.
The ugly incident pressured the sport to be cancelled and the end result awarded to the Serbian workforce, which is now up 2-0 within the best-of-five collection, after Exum had top-scored with 19 factors.
Referees reviewed the melee and agreed they might have ejected virtually each member of each groups – gamers and employees – and determined, as a substitute, to name the sport.
The nasty incident is anticipated to attract fines and suspensions and go away tensions operating excessive forward of recreation three, which will likely be in Serbia, leaving some gamers fearing for the protection of the Madrid workforce, given Partizan’ historically rabid fanbase.
“Wowwww I know when they go to Serbia for game 3&4 those Real Madrid players better not leave the hotel,” Errick McCollum, brother of NBA star CJ, wrote on Twitter.
“I pray Real Madrid enters Serbia with the national guard. Entering Partizan’s arena for games 3 and 4 with them fans after that … I pray for y’all,” Dylan Ennis, brother of former NBA participant Tyler, wrote.
Contrite Madrid captain Rudy Fernandez expressed remorse over the incident, submit recreation.
“After what we have experienced today, we have to say sorry to our fans, to every basketball fan,” Fernandez stated.
“We can’t watch this kind of incident, but as players we have emotions and we make mistakes. Today was one of these days.
“The tension has to stop here and we will have to play just a game of basketball for the fans to enjoy the EuroLeague.”
WNBL PLAYERS CAUGHT IN CROSSFIRE AS BA, OWNERS GO TO WAR
Originally revealed as Dante Exum physique slammed in wild basketball brawl throughout EuroLeague playoffs
Source: www.news.com.au
