Australian Olympic bronze medallist Dante Exum has been body slammed to the court in a shocking incident that had a club medico fearing a broken spine after his side’s EuroLeague playoff clash descended into chaos.
Exum’s Partizan Belgrade led Real Madrid 95-80 with less than two minutes to play in the game 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 got physical before 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 broken toe, had to be helped from the floor, 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”.
Exum’s injury, depending on recovery time, could throw a spanner in 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 forced the game to be cancelled and the result awarded to the Serbian team, which is now up 2-0 in the best-of-five series, after Exum had top-scored with 19 points.
Referees reviewed the melee and agreed they would have ejected almost every member of both teams – players and staff – and decided, instead, to call the game.
The nasty incident is expected to draw fines and suspensions and leave tensions running high ahead of game three, which will be in Serbia, leaving some players fearing for the safety of the Madrid team, given Partizan’ traditionally 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 player Tyler, wrote.
Contrite Madrid captain Rudy Fernandez expressed regret over the incident, post game.
“After what we have experienced today, we have to say sorry to our fans, to every basketball fan,” Fernandez said.
“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.”
Basketball journalist
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