Nikola Jokic was booed when he touched the ball early in Sunday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals series between his Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The boos began for Jokic on his first touch of the game and continued through the rest of the first quarter. Why did the fans feel the need to boo him? It has to do with an incident from Friday’s Game 3.
Jokic rammed into Enes Kanter on a free throw attempt during the game, nailing the Blazers big man in his injured left shoulder. Kanter couldn’t believe no foul was called and brought it to the attention of the refs. He then tweeted the video after the game and said the league should look at it.
Denver head coach Michael Malone defended Jokic over the play, saying the center meant nothing malicious. Blazers head coach Terry Stotts felt otherwise, saying he thought the move was “uncalled for.” It’s pretty clear where Portland’s fans stand on the incident.
