The NBA has long grappled with how to manage player interactions with fans. But what happens when the fan owns one of the teams? After Sunday night, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic wants to know.
Who is he? The Serbian native is the starting center for the Nuggets, and is a two-time NBA MVP.
What's the big deal? Jokic has dominated headlines since that game, but not for his scoring.
What are people saying? Everything and anything, it seems. The basketball world is staunchly divided.
Here's what Jokic had to say about it after the game:
The fan put their hands on me first. I thought the league was supposed to protect us, but maybe I'm wrong.
Not me as a person, I mean as a player. I know he's an owner but he's a fan, isn't he? Whoever he is, he cannot influence the game by holding the ball.
I think he's supposed to get kicked out if he's influencing the game.
Ishbia tweeted on Monday about a possible suspension or fine for Jokic:
Refereeing crew chief Tony Brothers after the game:
Jokic came to get the ball, grabbed it away from the fan, then after that he deliberately gave him a shove and pushed him down, so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical foul.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on the issue:
[Jokic] is going to get the ball, and some fan was holding the ball like he wants to be part of the game ... They deemed Nikola doing something that was excessive, I guess, and they gave him a tech, but I still don't really understand it.
I don't give a s*** [that it was Ishbia]. I really don't care.
Want more on basketball? Listen to Consider This on how women's basketball is having a moment.
So, what now?
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