Brooklyn Nets forward Rodions Kurucs appeared in court Tuesday after being arrested for a June 27 incident in which he allegedly choked, slapped and bit his then-girlfriend, according to the New York Daily News.
The New York Post reported Kurucs grabbed a knife and threatened to kill himself during an argument with his girlfriend in his apartment, but then dropped the knife and got violent with her. He is being charged with third-degree assault along with other charges, the Daily News reported.
Kurucs, 21, allegedly grabbed the woman by the neck, pushed her onto the bed, slapped and bit her. Prosecutors say the woman reported a bruised hand, rib and face, as well as problems breathing, to a local urgent care facility.
Kurucs did not enter a plea in response to to the misdemeanor charges and was released without bail. He is not to have any contact with the woman. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said there are no pictures of the woman's injuries.
The woman reported the alleged assault to law enforcement Aug. 27, according to the Post. Kurucs' lawyer said that report came days after his girlfriend and him separated. Kurucs' next appearance in court is scheduled for October.
In a statement, the Nets said they "notified and are assisting the League Office as they begin the process of gathering more information."
Statement from the Nets about the allegation that Rodions Kucucs choked his girlfriend: pic.twitter.com/SqCqfK1Gnf
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) September 3, 2019
Kurucs is a Latvian-born forward who the Nets selected in the second round of the 2018 draft. He quickly moved up from the G League to the NBA, where he played 63 games and had 46 starts last year, averaging 20.5 minutes. He is entering the second of a four-year, $7M contract.