WASHINGTON (AFP) — Philadelphia forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is eager to return to National Basketball Association action this week after suffering a fractured rib in what he called a “traumatic” hit-and-run accident last month.
Oubre called out conspiracy theorists who questioned his version of events after police said they had not been able to find any video evidence of the incident, in which Oubre says he was out walking when he was struck by a vehicle that fled.
“This was and is a very traumatic situation for me and my family,” said Oubre when he met reporters at the 76ers training facility on Monday.
“So, I just wish that my life wasn’t like ‘The Truman Show’ where everybody kind of watched it and had their own opinion about my life.”
With police still investigating, Oubre said he wouldn’t go into specifics of what happened on 11 November when he was hospitalized with a broken rib and other injuries.
“This is very hard for us to have to deal with and for me to miss being on the court, which keeps me sane, and a lot of people were very inconsiderate and insensitive to try to worry about video cameras,” Oubre said.
“I’m just really blessed that it wasn’t worse than what it is and I’m able to come back to work and smile and walk and talk and breathe. So yeah, that’s just what I have to say about the conspiracy theorists.”
Oubre is expected to return for the Sixers on Wednesday at the Washington Wizards.
Oubre, 27, is averaging 16.3 points on 50 percent shooting this season. He inked a $2.89 million deal with the 76ers in September.
A first-round pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2015 draft, he has played for the Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.