Should the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić be punished for pushing Mat Ishiba? The Suns owner doesn’t think so

Following a contentious moment during Game 4 between the Denver’s main man and the owner of the Suns, it’s been widely expected that some form of fine will be handed down. Yet, to hear the franchise head tell it, he doesn’t want to see the situation go any further ahead of a critical Game 5.

Suns’ Mat Ishiba doesn’t want to see Nikola Jokić punished any further

If you caught Game 4 of the Suns vs Nuggets series on Sunday night, then you definitely saw the moment in which Denver’s star, Nikola Jokić shoved Suns owner, Mat Ishiba, who appeared to be holding on to the basketball after it went out of bounds. Indeed, Jokić was issued a technical foul for his part in the altercation, which almost became a fight with several fans and players alike getting involved. Needless to say, both teams and their fans have been waiting to see what kind of fallout will follow with a fine or suspension widely expected. Yet, Ishiba himself has now claimed that he’d like to see the situation go no further.

“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story,” Ishbia wrote. “Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right. I have alot of respect for Jokić and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!” The incident itself occured with 2:36 left on the clock in the second quarter. At the time, suns guard Josh Okogie went stumbling into the stands while chasing after a loose ball, which landed in Ishiba’s hands. At that point, Jokić appeared to yank the ball from Ishiba’s hands while proceeding to shove him in the chest with his elbow, which in turn led to the franchise owner falling backward into his seat. What followed was a verbal altercation between several individuals including Pistons Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas who could be seen holding onto Jokić's jersey at one point. It’s worth noting that neither Thomas nor Ishiba were penalized for their part in the incident. On the night Jokić put 53-points on the board, but it was not enough to prevent a loss.

What’s been said about Nikola Jokić's actions

Where Jokić is concerned, the 28-year-old made it clear that did not believe he was in the wrong, but rather reacted to actions of a “fan.” Speaking postgame Jokic stood firm saying, “The fan put the hand on me first,” he said, though he did not call Ishiba by name. “I thought the league’s supposed to protect us or whatever. So, but maybe I’m wrong.” When a member of the press pointed out that the individual that he pushed was in fact the Suns owner, Jokić simply doubled down. “He’s sitting on the court, then he’s a fan, isn’t he? ...Whoever it is, he is a fan. He cannot influence the game holding the ball.” Expectedly, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone backed his player. “I think it’s crazy that Nikola got a technical foul in that situation,” he said. “He’s going for the ball and some fan holds onto the ball like he wants to be a part of the game?” All things considered, it may just be that Ishiba is coyly trying to avoid a fine himself, given that video of the incident does seem to indicate that he put his hands on Jokić first. Watch this space.