In the most recent court filings, Alan Strickland's lawyers said he would have risked Masai Ujiri "potentially committing any number of possibly serious crimes" if the deputy had not employed force.

"I was reminded in that moment that despite all of my hard work and success, there are some people, including those who are supposed to protect us, who will always and only see me as something that is unworthy of respectful engagement."

'Masai was not an aggressor, but instead was the recipient of two very violent, unwarranted actions,' states the court document filed by Masai.