Ryan Dunn had the most bizarre reason for not helping Jusuf Nurkic in his altercation vs. Mavs

Phoenix Suns rookie Ryan Dunn revealed the reason for not engaging in teammate Jusuf Nurkic's fight versus Dallas Mavericks.

Ryan Dunn had the most bizarre reason for not helping Jusuf Nurkic in his altercation vs. Mavs

Ryan Dunn dishes on reason for not engaging in teammate Jusuf Nurkic's fight on Friday

The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks brought playoff-like intensity to their Friday night clash. The game spiraled into chaos when a scuffle broke out in the third quarter. Suns center Jusuf Nurkic and Mavericks forward Naji Marshall found themselves at the center of the melee, exchanging blows before being separated. However, a notable absentee from the fight was Suns rookie Ryan Dunn.

Amid the brawl, rookie Ryan Dunn avoided getting involved. While other players rushed to de-escalate or defend their teammates, Dunn kept his distance. His post-game comments revealed why he did not come to the defense of his teammate Jusuf Nurkic.

I’m a rookie, I don’t got enough money to be getting fined $5,000, so I can’t throw a punch… He was on me, I was tryin’ to squabble! Nah, I think it was just the heat of the moment.

Ryan Dunn told the reporters
YouTube video

Weird and funny as his answer may be, Dunn was absolutely right to maintain his distance in the fight. The fight emanated from an offensive foul from Nurkic on Mavs center Daniel Gafford, which saw Nurkic and Marshall confront each other before coming to blows. Mavs forward PJ Washington stepped in as well. Nurkic, Marshall and Washington were all ejected for their outbursts.

FS Video

By staying away from the scuffle, Ryan Dunn ensured that he stayed in the game for the Suns. Additionally, as the 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Dunn will earn a base salary of $2,530,800 after signing a 4 year $12,998,353 contract with the Phoenix Suns earlier this season. Risking a fine with a mid-draft rookie’s salary would certainly not be advisable.

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NBA suspends Jusuf Nurkic, PJ Washington, and Naji Marshall

The NBA acted swiftly in response to the altercation, handing out suspensions to the primary participants. Jusuf Nurkic received a three-game suspension, while Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington were suspended for four and one, respectively. Here’s what the official statement from the NBA said:

Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall has been suspended four games without pay and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic has been suspended three games without pay for their involvement in an on-court altercation.

Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars announced

The suspensions were compounded by Marshall’s reported attempt to continue the conflict by confronting Jusuf Nurkic in the corridor outside the locker rooms, according to the NBA.

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Nurkic’s suspension is a significant blow for the Suns, who are already dealing with injuries to key players like Devin Booker. His absence for three games will force Phoenix to rely on its bench depth with backup center Mason Plumlee. For the Mavericks, Marshall’s four-game suspension removes a key contributor, in the midst of a prolonged injury to their star player Luka Doncic.