NBA fines Nikola Jokic $25,000 for shoving Suns owner Mat Ishbia
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic won't be suspended for Sunday's altercation with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, the NBA announced on Monday afternoon.
Instead, Jokic was fined $25,000 for shoving Ishbia. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN first reported the news.
No Game 5 suspension for Denver’s Nikola Jokic, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 8, 2023
The incident, for which Jokic received a technical foul, occurred with 2:36 remaining in the second quarter of the Nuggets’ 129-124 loss to the Suns in Game 4 of their series on May 7 at Footprint Center.
On Monday afternoon, Ishbia tweeted that he didn't want any further disciplinary action for Jokic.
“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far!” Ishbia posted. “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. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”
Through nine playoff games, Jokic is averaging 30.8 points, 13.1 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 1.9 threes, while shooting 52.8% from the field, 47.2% from three-point range and 78.1% from the free-throw line.
The two-time NBA MVP has had some incredible performances during this postseason, including the first 30-point, 17-rebound, 17-assist outing in playoff history as well as the first 53-point, 11-assist performance in NBA postseason history.
The Nuggets and Suns are tied at 2-2 as the series heads back to Denver.