NBA fans were furious after ref tripped over Jusuf Nurkic’s injured leg

Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic suffered a horrifying injury in Monday’s game against the Nets, sustaining compound fractures to his left tibia and fibula.

It was a gruesome injury that quickly had NBA players and fans sending prayers Nurkic’s way. But the moment wasn’t without outrage. Fans were furious at how one NBA referee handled the injury.

As Nurkic laid down on the floor, NBA official Tyler Ford carelessly walked over Nurkic’s leg and made contact with his foot. It was immediately clear that Nurkic had suffered a serious injury, so there really wasn’t an excuse for Ford to be walking anywhere near the injured leg.

(Warning: The video contains graphic content).

Should this NBA ref be fined or even fired? #nurkic pic.twitter.com/JV24Aek1QN

— The Sports Truth 🌐 (@TheSportsTruth1) March 26, 2019

NBA officials are trained on how to react in the case of a serious injury, and you can bet that walking over the injured player was not part of that protocol. Even if Ford had no intent to make contact with Nurkic, his recklessness had NBA fans calling for the league to take action against Ford.

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near the injured player.

I’m sure the ref didn’t see Nurkic leg but WTF.

— Tyler Ennis (@TylerEnnis) March 26, 2019

yall just like kicking injured players when they’re on the ground?

— Cannen (@CannenRoberson) March 26, 2019

Tyler Ford is the ref from the @trailblazers game. Petition to fire this man, for obvious reasons. #PORvBKN

— Joe Hammond (@jaydh15) March 26, 2019

#39 Tyler Ford’s action after the injury was pure unprofessional and disrespectful, went against NBA Ref protocol. You should never walk over an injured player like that. Dude should be suspended!

— Ethan Borden (@EthanBorden) March 26, 2019

Pick your goddamn foot up next time, Tyler Ford. What a callous move. @NBAOfficial pic.twitter.com/1f252xrr8l

— Will Homonnay (@WillHomonnay) March 26, 2019

Fire Tyler ford @OfficialNBARefs @NBAOfficial pic.twitter.com/q7Dao4QpGw

— Wham Bam Can of Ham (@THlSlSAMERlCA) March 26, 2019

NBA needs to fire Tyler Ford for being totally oblivious to that devastating Nurkic's injury and stumbling on his compound fractured leg. #nurkic #trailblazers #NBA

— To Be Determined (@_obnoxiousc) March 26, 2019

@OfficialNBARefs Y’all need to take a serious look at the crew who officiated the Brooklyn vs Portland game tonight. Josh Tiven, Tyler Ford and Ray Acosta. Kicking a players foot who’s down on the ground with a broken leg is completely unacceptable!

— Zach Prinz (@zprinz92) March 26, 2019

Tyler Ford literally kicked Jusuf Nurkic's injured leg. It was either deliberate or he's completely incompetent. He needs to be fired! #JusufNurkic #RipCity @NBATV @NBA @OfficialsNBAref #NBAReferees

— Clay Hardy (@BaldEagle_PDX) March 26, 2019

Tyler Ford should be fired and not allowed to ref a NBA game ever again.

— Johnny Cornell (@cornelljw) March 26, 2019

@NBAOfficial needs to address Tyler Ford tripping over Nurkic's leg after he snapped it. It's awful an official was that unaware of their surroundings. If officiating is going to be transparent, they have to address a young ref not knowing how to manuver around an injured player.

— Zachary Mahabir (@zacharymahabir) March 26, 2019

Sucked it up and watched it. The official Tyler Ford didn’t cause it, but got Nurkic’s obviously broken leg as he walked away. 🤮 https://t.co/OKqoD14OCv

— Matt Ravis (@mattravis) March 26, 2019

The NBA Referees Twitter account actively posted tweets into Tuesday, but the account has not addressed the incident or any potential action taken against Ford.