Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic was ejected from a recent NBA game at the United Center on Serbian Heritage Night, leading to a cryptic response from the Serbian big man. The ejection happened during the Nuggets‘ only visit to Chicago this season, making a frustrating end to Jokic’s night.
The incident took place late in the second quarter when Jokic, a two-time MVP, was ejected from the game after expressing his dissatisfaction to an official. The cause of his frustration was a non-call on a layup attempt with just over a minute remaining in the first half. Jokic, believing he had been fouled, challenged the referee, which resulted in his immediate ejection.
“I’m just happy that we didn’t play in Serbia, this game. It’s could’ve been really fun to see how it would be handled.”
– Nikola Jokic on the referee ejecting him
(h/t @awfulannouncing )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 13, 2023
After the game, Jokic responded to the ejection sarcastically. “It is what it is. I’m just happy that we didn’t play in Serbia this game,” he stated, hinting how such an incident might have been treated there. His comment suggested that Serbian fans would not have appreciated their national star being dismissed so easily, especially on a night celebrating Serbian heritage.
The ejection and Jokic’s following comments sparked various reactions among NBA fans. One fan wrote, “This gotta be a threat,” Another added, “man said the refs wouldn’t be seeing their families again.”
Jokic later highlighted the inconsistency in officiating, stating that some players can say whatever without facing penalties. Referee crew chief Mark Lindsay, when asked about the incident, declined to clarify what Jokic said but confirmed that the player’s language reached the standard for an ejection.
Nuggets defeat Bulls despite ejection of Nikola Jokic
Despite the ejection of their star player Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets managed to secure a 114-106 win over the Chicago Bulls. This win was particularly impressive as it came under a challenging situation, with the Nuggets already short-handed.
Reggie Jackson stepped up for Denver, scoring 25 points, while Michael Porter Jr. added 17 points, playing important roles in the team’s victory. This win was impressive considering the Nuggets were without Jamal Murray and lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a head contusion during the game.
Jokic left the game with four points, nine rebounds, and six assists. The United Center crowd booed Jokic’s ejection because he hadn’t received a warning or a technical foul before.
Despite trailing by 16 points in the third quarter, the Bulls, led by Coby White’s 27 points and Nikola Vucevic’s double-double, narrowed the gap to five points. However, Denver managed to regain control and maintain their lead.