Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was ejected from his team’s Tuesday contest against the Chicago Bulls. The announcers calling the game couldn’t believe it.
The Nuggets led the Bulls 54-47 with just over a minute left in the second quarter at United Center in Chicago, Ill.
Jokic missed a layup while being defended by Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. The 2-time MVP complained to the referee Mousa Dagher because he thought he was fouled on the play.
As the action developed on the Bulls’ side of the court, Jokic was called for a technical foul. Not long after, referee Mark Lindsay whistled the Joker for a second technical foul.
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The officials’ two techs against Jokic in rapid succession left the Bulls broadcast in disbelief. Even if the result favored their home team, Bulls announcers Adam Amin and Stacey King called the ejection “excessive.” To make matters worse, the entire thing unfolded on Serbian Heritage Night.
“I saw the official point as if he was ejecting Jokic for the game,” Amin told King. “That can’t be right, can it? Did he get ejected from the game? … That doesn’t seem fair at all. That’s excessive.”
“The people didn’t come to see the officials, let’s just be honest, they came to see the players,” King added.
Jokic exited the contest with just 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in 16 minutes played.
Jokic’s tossing has to rank as one of the calmest ejections in recent memory. The Nuggets star probably merited a technical for continuously complaining to the official. But to get two in rapid succession despite not losing his temper was surprising to say the least.
Despite their star player being tossed and Jamal Murray sidelined, the Nuggets were still able to come away with a 114-106 win. Nuggets guard Reggie Jackson stepped up with 25 points to lead Denver in scoring.
