Jusuf Nurkic talks voting, Joel Embiid suspension and athlete-media relationship

Phoenix SunsThe great Jusuf Nurkic used his social media platform to encourage people to vote, posting a tweet on Election Day on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, Nurkic explained why he tweeted the message.

“I think it’s a big thing for people to go out there and vote for what they believe in,” said Nurkic, who wondered before last season why there were “so many guns” about child safety in America.

The 7-meter player is from Bosnia.

“I think it’s important to get out there and vote just for the future,” Nurkic said after the shootout Wednesday morning before the Suns played the Miami Heat at Footprint Center.

“I think this is the greatest country in the world and we deserve the rights to carry that title, but also what people see as a representative and how they want to be represented,” he said. “I felt like that was important to me as an American, especially the energy and the media and the pain. No matter where you go. I thought, surprisingly, the votes and how many people voted.”

Former President Donald Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris He took back the White House on Wednesday Morning.

“I don’t really care who you want to vote for, but I think it’s important to get out there and do it,” Nurkic added.

Nurkic also used social media platforms to call out athletes, much like LeBron James did when he tweeted his support for Harris before the election.

“I think it’s a great honor and luxury to have the right to tell people to vote, but a lot of people disagree with why people are saying vote for this guy or vote for that,” Nurkic said. “This is a choice people have to make for themselves. “We all want to be represented in the best way possible and we all want our best players, coaches and media, I think that’s the biggest one.”

The NBA tweeted a video on Election Day with several head coaches encouraging people to vote. The league did not have any games scheduled on Election Day.

Suns insider Duane Rankin explains Phoenix’s substitution decisions

Phoenix Suns insider Duane Rankin breaks down the substitution decisions coach Mike Budenholzer has made so far this season. The players are giving him their input.

“That’s why people need to go out there and vote,” Nurkic continued. “Isn’t it democracy? “Sometimes I disagree with people saying who people should vote for, but at the same time people don’t do their research and then they just act on words, and sometimes people say they’re going to do something, but they can’t do anything about it.”

Nurkic continued by saying that “there is a lot of misinformation” when it comes to politics.

“It’s saying the wrong things that people don’t understand about what kind of change needs to happen to achieve their goals,” he said. “I think this is education and I think the media can do better; educating people whether it’s the president or the mayor or whatever. “What are their powers, what can they do, what action can they really change?”

“I think politics is more complicated than sports, but I also think it’s a great honor to have the access to tell people to go vote,” Nurkic concluded.

Nurkic was then asked about the relationship between media and athletes after Joel Embiid was suspended three games for pushing a reporter in the locker room following last week’s loss to Memphis at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.

“It’s unfortunate,” Nurkic said. “I think the whole world is like that. I think negativity is much better than positivity. You change the world today and probably an hour later someone will do something bad and it will be talked about for a month. It’s unnecessary, but it’s also clickbait.”

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes referenced Embiid’s son and late brother in a critical piece This upset the 76ers’ big man. Embiid’s suspension will begin once he is eligible and able to play.

“Mutual respect is paramount in the relationship between players and the media in the NBA,” executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement released Tuesday. “While we understand that Joel was uncomfortable with the personal nature of the reporter’s original version of his piece, interactions should remain professional on both sides and never become physical.”

Nurkic thinks it’s normal for the media to point fingers at a player for underperforming or “doing something wrong,” but he thinks the media should also be held accountable.

“Family affairs are never easy and sometimes they are mostly emotional,” Nurkic said. “If people want to bring basketball to the family, it’s wrong. I’m not saying Embiid did it right. He shouldn’t have done it either, but I understand why he said he did it. He got his punishment, but I wonder what punishment will be given to those involved in this.”

Any thoughts on the Suns’ current situation? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at: [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter): @DuaneRankin.

Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.

Related Posts