ACB League faces backlash over post on Nihad Djedovic's ball throw / News - Basketnews.com

A controversial play by Nihad Djedovic, in which he threw the ball at an off-court opponent, has ignited a social media storm, with ACB League coaches debating the balance between entertainment and sportsmanship.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

The Endesa League recently shared a video on social media showcasing a controversial play involving Unicaja Malaga player Nihad Djedovic.

BAXI Manresa / Schedule

Unicaja Malaga BAXI Manresa91-77 BAXI Manresa Girona BasquetSat19:45

In the highlighted ACB game against BAXI Manresa on Saturday, Djedovic recovered the ball and, instead of opting for a pass to his teammate, threw it into the face of Martinas Geben, who was off the court then.

The league's social media profile on X posted the video with an ill-advised comment, sparking a flurry of opinions.

The tweet read, "I can't wait to see your answers in this thread. Tag a friend who knows them all and could rival Djedovic's skills."

This post triggered reactions from many people, including Manresa's head coach, Pedro Martinez, who expressed his discontent with the tweet.

In response, Martinez emphasized his preference for Geben's committed dive for the ball, criticizing the league's focus on what he deemed as the more "entertaining" aspects.

During a press conference this morning, Unicaja coach Ibon Navarro echoed Martinez's sentiments, supporting the BAXI Manresa bench boss.

"I think Pedro Martinez is right. It seems wrong to me that Djedovic's action is valued more than that of a player who dives on the floor to fight for a ball.

"Instead of talking about a player from the rival team diving for an impossible ball, which is one of the values in sport -- never giving up -- they [the league] focus on something that I don't like very much," Navarro said, via Mundo Deportivo.

Unicaja's coach then shared that they had discussed the situation with Djedovic, who explained that he believed he was about to step on the line, prompting his odd decision to throw the ball at Geben.

Last week, a comparable incident gained widespread attention, showcasing one of the most disrespectful gestures in basketball. In the Overtime Elite, a U.S. basketball league, Peyton Marshall from the Cold Hearts executed a block against his opponent. Rather than initiating a fast break, Marshall threw the ball to the other player who had already been off the court.

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