NBA Fined Denver Center Nikola Jokic $65 Million for making contact with Sun’s Owner… See more…
The mini-fracas began when Suns guard Josh Okogie crashed into the seats while trying to save a loose ball.
He landed in a group of fans on the baseline that included Ishbia, who held on to the basketball.
Jokic was trying to get the ball quickly – apparently so the Nuggets could start getting into their offensive possession – when he attempted to grab the ball away from Ishbia.
The ball flew backward into the crowd, and then Ishbia was knocked backward by Jokic’s elbow.
Jokic defended his actions after a game in which he had 53 points and 11 assists.
“The fan put the hand on me first,” Jokic explained. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I am wrong. I know who he is, but he is a fan. Isn’t he?”
Malone agreed.
“That’s not an owner in the stands. He’s a fan,” Malone said Monday. “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.”
There were a few minutes of confusion as officials sorted out the weird scene, and then Jokic was assessed a technical foul. The Suns made the ensuing free throw.
Devin Booker finished with 36 points and 12 assists. He also gave a shout-out to the Suns owner.
“He got us a point!” Booker said with a grin.
Ishbia has been the Suns’ owner for only a few months, purchasing the team from the embattled Robert Sarver.
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 seats in the second half.
The tiff didn’t seem to bother Jokic, either – the MVP runner-up scored or assisted on 78 points Sunday, which was the most in a playoff game by a center in NBA history, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
