Nikola Jokic, Michael Malone explain shove of Suns owner Mat Ishbia: 'He's a fan, isn't he?'

Edward Sutelan

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Nikola Jokic, Michael Malone explain shove of Suns owner Mat Ishbia: 'He's a fan, isn't he?' image

Suns owner Mat Ishbia went back to his Michigan State playing days when he drew a charge on Nikola Jokic during Game 4 of the Suns-Nuggets series, leading to the two-time NBA MVP receiving a technical and possibly a suspension. Jokic responded by saying the league chose to protect a fan over a player.

The ball went out of bounds late in the second quarter of an eventual 129-124 Suns victory, and it found its way to Ishbia. The Suns owner was reluctant to give the ball up as Jokic came over to grab it before the ball was flipped back toward other fans. Jokic's left arm made contact with Ishbia, who fell backward and immediately raised his arms. Crew chief Tony Brothers called a technical on the Nuggets star. 

Jokic said he knew who it was he made contact with, but noted there was no distinction between him and the others around the court.

"I know who he is, but he's a fan, isn't he?" Jokic said. "He cannot influence the game by holding the ball."

MORE: Will Jokic be suspended for contact with Ishbia?

The star Nuggets center, who finished the game with 53 points on 20-of-30 shooting, said he was told by Brothers that the technical was for a deliberate shove. In a pool report, Brothers said he wasn't ejected because he "didn't just run over and hit a fan."

"There was some engagement, so I deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty," Brothers said, per the NBA.

Jokic explained he felt Ishbia put his hands on him first, and said he thought the league was "supposed to protect us ... but maybe I'm wrong."

"But his hands were on me," Jokic said. "So they're not going to protect me? They're going to protect the fan? Not me as a person, I'm talking about as a player. They can do whatever of course, they don't care. But I think they're supposed to protect the players."

He added that he was trying to get the ball from Ishbia, who wouldn't let go of it, and said that he's "influencing the game."

"I think he's supposed to get kicked out if he's influencing the game," Jokic said. 

MORE: Why Jokic received a technical for shove

On Monday, Ishbia said on Twitter he didn't believe Jokic should be suspended for the incident.

"Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right. I have alot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that," Ishbia said in the tweet.

Denver coach Michael Malone came to the defense of the team's star talent. He said it was "crazy" for Jokic to receive a technical, and said Ishbia was holding onto the ball "like he wants to be a part of the game."

Malone was asked if he knew the fan was the Suns owner.

"I don't give a s—. I really don't care," Malone responded.

MORE: Devin Booker is making playoff history

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, also defended his teammate, saying it was clear Ishbia was holding the ball and preventing Jokic from allowing the play to continue.

"Joker was trying to get the ball, and he was, like, wrestling the ball from Joker. That's ridiculous," Gordon said. "I get it that it's your organization, but allow the players to play. Allow the game to be played. Don't try and, like, just don't do that. That was super lame."

Suns guard Devin Booker, unsurprisingly, took a different stance, saying Ishbia helped Phoenix add an extra point in the close contest. 

"He did his job," Booker said. "I haven't seen the video yet, but I heard from the bench that he got knocked over. So, we'll see."

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.