The Footprint Center in Phoenix was the site of a rather strange scene in this Game 2 between the Suns and the Nuggets.
At the end of the second quarter, Nikola Jokic fends off a shot from Deandre Ayton and Josh Okogie fights to keep possession. The latter is in the fight with Jamal Murray and finishes in the first row of the spectators. As one of the referees gives the throw-in to Denver, Nikola Jokic wants to recover the ball to play quickly. Especially since Josh Okogie is still off the field.
The pivot tries to snatch the ball from the hands of a Suns fan who wants to keep it. The ball flies between the two men and the fan, who is now standing, is pushed back in his seat by the double MVP. Result: the Denver player takes a technical foul.
“One of the fans was holding the ball, Jokic came to snatch it out of his hands”explains referee Tony Brothers. “Then he deliberately pushed him, which earned him a technical foul. There was a kick-off, so I felt the technical foul was the appropriate sanction. »
This little altercation, which will generate a moment of tension, could have been a short incident like any other, even if we know that the league pays attention to the interactions between the players and the public.
“The referee told me I had nudged a fan, but the latter put his hands on me first”insists the pivot for ESPN. “The league is supposed to protect us, the players. But maybe I’m wrong. He had his hands on me. »
What reaction from the NBA?
Except that the fan in question is not just anyone: it is Mat Ishbia, the owner of the Phoenix franchise. But for Nikola Jokic, the status of the person does not matter. “I know who he is, but he’s a fan, right? »he continues. “As he’s a fan, he can’t influence the game by keeping the ball. »
Obviously, Michael Malone came to defend his star, who had a huge game with 53 points in the loss to the Nuggets. Because this simple collision could very well lead the league to fine him, or even, in the worst case, suspend him for Game 5…
“It’s crazy that Nikola takes a technical foul in this situation. He goes for the ball and a fan keeps it like he wants to be part of the game. Give the ball, that’s all. And whether it’s Ishbia or not, I don’t care. »
For his part, Devin Booker did not want to dwell on the altercation between the owner of the Suns and his opponent. He simply congratulated Mat Ishbia because the Suns had a free throw (scored by Kevin Durant) following the technical foul. “He brought us a point. So he did his job.” smiled thus the rear.
| Nikola Jokic | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | DEN | 80 | 22 | 51.2 | 33.3 | 81.1 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 7.0 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 10.0 |
| 2016-17 | DEN | 73 | 28 | 57.8 | 32.4 | 82.5 | 2.9 | 6.9 | 9.8 | 4.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 16.7 |
| 2017-18 | DEN | 75 | 33 | 49.9 | 39.6 | 85.0 | 2.6 | 8.1 | 10.7 | 6.1 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 18.5 |
| 2018-19 | DEN | 80 | 31 | 51.1 | 30.7 | 82.1 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 7.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 20.1 |
| 2019-20 | DEN | 73 | 32 | 52.8 | 31.4 | 81.7 | 2.3 | 7.5 | 9.7 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| 2020-21 ★ | DEN | 72 | 35 | 56.6 | 38.8 | 86.8 | 2.9 | 8.0 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 ★ | DEN | 74 | 34 | 58.3 | 33.7 | 81.0 | 2.8 | 11.0 | 13.8 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 27.1 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 69 | 34 | 63.2 | 38.3 | 82.2 | 2.4 | 9.4 | 11.8 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 24.5 |
| Total | 596 | 31 | 55.3 | 34.8 | 82.9 | 2.6 | 7.9 | 10.5 | 6.6 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 20.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
