◤NBA playoffs◢ Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić fined $25,00 for for shoving Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia..
2023-05-09 19:16Denver Nuggets Serbian center Nikola Jokić has been fined $25,000 for shoving Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia during Game 4 of the team's Western Conference semi-finals series against the Suns, The Athletic reported Monday, citing the official NBA Public Relations' Twitter account.
According to reports, the penalty decision was made by Joe Durmas, the NBA's Vice President of the Head of Basketball Operations. The statement reads: "The NBA Vice President of the Head of Basketball Operations Joe Durmas announced today that it has taken the decision to fine Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić $25,000 for having inappropriate contact with a spectator sitting courtside."
"Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia made contact with the ball after the ball bounced into his hands near his seat, Jokić then made contact with Ishbia and tried to take the game ball away. The ball was then thrown back to the crowd further away."
"(It's worth mentioning that) Jokić was given a technical foul during the second quarter of Game 4 of Nugget's 129-124 divisional playoffs semi-finals series loss to the Suns at Footprint Center on May 7 with 2 minutes and 36 seconds left."
With the release of the statement, it also means that Jokić was only fined and escaped suspension.
During Game 4 of the Western Conference playoffs semi-final series last Sunday (May 7, 2023) local time, Jokić clashed with Phoenix Suns owner Ishbia when he asked for the ball from courtside, subsequently, he was given a technical foul.
After the game, when attending the post-match press conference, Jokić explained his behaviour that : "The referee told me that I had shoved the spectator down with my elbow, but the spectator put his hand on me first. I thought the NBA would've protected us?! But maybe I'm wrong."
"I wanted the ball, he refuse to give it, he was affecting the game, in this case he should be expelled."
Later, Ishbia also posted on his official Twitter account to praise the team's victory, and he did not forget to play down the seriousness of Jokić's fine. He wrote: "The Suns' victory last night was great, the series and the excitement of the games has been amazing so far, and this should have been its only story!"
"[If] it's wrong to suspend or fine anyone for what happened last night. I have a lot of respect for Jokić and don't want to see that happen. I'm excited for Game 5 of the series, come on Suns! "
The 28-year-old Jokić was born in Sombor, Serbia on February 19, 1995. He is 2.11 meters tall and plays as a center. His two older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, are both professional basketball players. They have been good friends with former Serbian center Darko Milicic.
Jokić started his career as a professional basketball player at the age of 12 by joining the his local team KK Mega Basket in Serbia. He was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but he did not play until 2015. It was only then that he formally reunited with his new team.
After joining the Nuggets, Jokić did not breakthrough and became the team's general until the 2017/18 season. Starting from the following year, he was selected as an NBA All-Star for five consecutive years.
So far this season, Jokić has played 69 games for the Nuggets in the regular season, averaging 33.7 minutes per game, scoring 24.5 points, recording 11.8 rebounds, 9.8 assists, 38.3% three-points percentage, and 63.8% field goal percentage.
Jokić reached double-double by scoring 53 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in Game 4 of the playoff series, which also broke the record and made him the Nuggets' the highest scoring player in its in NBA playoffs team history and the first center in the history of the playoffs to achieve a record of 53-11.
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