Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic made the news after being fined $25000 by the NBA for making inappropriate contact with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia during Game 4 of their second-round playoff series. The incident took place on Sunday night when Jokic tried to snatch the ball back from Ishbia, who was sitting courtside, and hit him with an elbow. Despite the fine, Jokic will be able to play in Game 5 on Tuesday night as there was no suspension.
Jokic has assessed a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 after trying to grab the ball away from Mat Ishbia, who had landed in a group of fans on the baseline after Suns. The ball flew backward into the crowd. Ishbia was knocked backward by Jokic’s elbow. This led to Nikola Jokic fined for $25000 which sounds like a nasty punishment.
Ishbia, a former walk-on basketball player at Michigan State, took to Twitter to praise his teamâs performance and urge no further disciplinary action. However, Nikola Jokic fined aggressively made it to the headlines. He wrote, âGreat win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining $25000 anyone over last night’s incident would not be right. I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”
Is Nikola Jovic’s $25000 fine justified?
Nuggets coach Michael Malone believed that Mat Ishbia deserved a flopping charge but was glad that Nikola Jokic’ fine for a hefty amount of $25000 was the only punishment. “That would probably be the only fine I could imagine, but I have no idea,” he said. Suns standout Kevin Durant was also glad that the incident saw a resolution.
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Nikola Jokic, who was fined $25000, defended his actions after the game, saying, “The fan put the hand on me first. I thought the league protects us. Maybe I am wrong. I know who he is, but he is a fan. Isn’t he?” Malone agreed with Nikola Jokic fined aggressively for $25000, saying, “That’s not an owner in the stands. He’s a fan. We don’t designate who’s in the stands. I just felt after watching that whole incident, Nikola is just trying to get the ball. I felt the embellishment was almost comical, from my standpoint.”
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Ishbia told The Associated Press at halftime that he was “fine” and more worried about the game than the altercation. He was back in his usual seat in the second half. Devin Booker, who finished the game with 36 points and 12 assists, gave a shout-out to Ishbia, saying, “He got us a point!”
Despite the incident overshadowing Game 4, the Suns won 129-124, tying the series at 2-2. Game 5 is in Denver on Tuesday night, and both teams are focused on the next round.
