Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs is accused of choking, slapping, biting and pushing a woman with whom he had a romantic relationship. The accusation came to light on Tuesday, when the 21-year-old Latvian native was arraigned in Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn. The arraignment was first reported by Trevor Boyer and Graham Rayman of The New York Daily News.

The allegations and charges

Kurucs allegedly became enraged during an argument with the complainant on the evening of Thursday, June 27. The purported incident occurred in his Brooklyn apartment. According to an account shared by the complainant with prosecutors, Kurucs allegedly screamed that he was going to “kill” himself. This account depicts the 6’9", 210 pound forward as then grabbing the complainant’s neck and choking her. He then, allegedly, slapped her in the face, bit her on the lip and pushed her onto a bed.

Although it’s unclear when the complainant sought medical attention, at some point prosecutors say she told a clinic that she had suffered bruises to her rib area and left hand. She also claims to have experienced difficulty breathing as a result of the incident.

Many facts have not yet been made public, thus leaving an incomplete narrative. To that end, it’s unknown if there were witnesses other than Kurucs and the complainant, or if alcohol or drugs may have played a role in the couple’s argument. Likewise, it’s unknown if there are texts, emails and social media messages that may shed light on the veracity and accuracy of the accusation. The complainant reportedly did not report the incident to law enforcement for nearly two months. It appears she continued to date Kurucs, including taking a trip to Las Vegas with him.

Kurucs has been charged with three-degree assault and other misdemeanor offenses. Under the New York State Penal Code, a person is guilty of third-degree assault when they intentionally or recklessly cause another person to suffer physical injury. A defendant can also be guilty of this offense when he or she acts with criminal negligence and injures another person by using a weapon.

Third-degree assault is a class A misdemeanor under New York law; class A is the most serious of three types of New York misdemeanors, though is not a felony. A class A offense is punishable by up to one year in jail or three years of probation. In some instances, this type of charge can be resolved through a plea deal in which the defendant is not jailed. Instead, he or she receives a combination of probation, community service, counseling and/or a fine. Since Kurucs does not appear to have a criminal record, he begins the legal process in a more favorable position than if he were a “repeat offender.”

Early indications suggest that Kurucs doesn’t intend to cut a plea deal but rather seek dismissal of the charges. Kurucs’s attorney, Alex Spiro, tells Sports Illustrated that the allegations against his client are bogus and stem from a bad breakup in the relationship.

"The former couple flew away together arm in arm in the days that followed the alleged incident,” Spiro insists. “Only after an unfortunate breakup did these claims appear—claims that the misdemeanor hearing today revealed were backed by no photographs or objective medical facts.”

Spiro, a partner at the global law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and a former Manhattan prosecutor, has successfully litigated on behalf of other pro athletes. They include such current and retired NBA players as Thabo Sefolosha, Ben Gordon, DeMarcus Cousins and Charles Oakley.

As detailed by Boyer and Rayman, Judge Gina Abadi released Kurucs without the need for him to post bail. He is ordered to stay away from the complainant.

NBA implications for Kurucs

While the focus of Kurucs’ attention will be on defeating the criminal charges, he will also be mindful of how the development impacts his NBA career.

Kurucs averaged 8.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per game as a rookie for the Nets last season. He is expected to play a larger role for Kenny Atkinson’s squad in ’19-’20. The Nets drafted Kurucs in the second round, 40th overall, in the 2018 NBA Draft, and promptly signed him to a three-year, $5.1 million contract. Kurucs has played professionally since he was 16 years old, including stints with FC Barcelona and the Latvian club VEF Rīga. It does not appear he has previously run afoul of the law or generated any public controversy.

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