Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic said after Wednesday night’s game against the Utah Jazz that he was not expecting any disciplinary action from the NBA for leaving the bench area during a scuffle, but that was likely just wishful thinking.
On Friday, the NBA announced that Jokic has been suspended one game for violating the league’s rule against leaving the bench area during an altercation.
Jokic suspended one game pic.twitter.com/tA1hLo6ZRW
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) January 25, 2019
Jokic and Gary Harris were among several players who walked along the baseline and toward and a shoving match that broke out between Mason Plumlee and Derrick Favors, and the NBA determined that Jokic’s “close proximity to the altercation and aggressive manner created the potential for further escalation of the situation.” Here’s a video of the incident:
Derrick Favors and Mason Plumlee were ejected after sparking an altercation on the court following a foul on the floor.
Nikola Jokic came off the bench and down the baseline, but didn’t get involved. pic.twitter.com/2QnsvjcEpA
— ESPN (@espn) January 24, 2019
Jokic insisted he was not worried about being fined or suspended because he “was not on the court,” but the league saw it differently.
Plumlee was fined $25,000 and Favors was fined $15,000. We all know Jokic has a fantastic sense of humor, but he will likely be unhappy with the NBA’s decision.
