As anticipated, the reigning NBA MVP, Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, has been suspended by the NBA following an on-court altercation with Heat forward Markieff Morris in last night’s 113-96 blowout Denver win.
The league announced (Twitter link) that Jokić will miss one game after shoving Morris from behind and giving him whiplash, though Morris had initially instigated contact with a mild shoulder check seconds prior. Both players were instantly ejected with Flagrant 2 foul calls.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, Jokić, a three-time All-Star, will lose $210,417 in salary as a result of his single-game suspension.
The NBA has also opted to fine Morris $50K for his role in the dispute. A bit more surprisingly, All-Star Heat small forward (and current 2022 MVP candidate) Jimmy Butler was dinged to the tune of $30K for “attempting to escalate” the conflict between the two players and “failing to comply with an NBA Security interview” about the incident, per the league’s statement. Though players from both the Nuggets and Heat rushed to the aid of their respective comrades, the league opted to single Butler out.
Jokić will thus miss the Nuggets’ next contest, a home matchup against the Pacers tomorrow night. Denver head coach Michael Malone said earlier today that, provided Jokić indeed was suspended, Denver would look to feature forwards Jeff Green, JaMychal Green, and Aaron Gordon more in the paint. Malone also floated the possibility that little-used young centers Bol Bol and Zeke Nnaji would get some run.
NBA sending a message to the dirty players: knock this off, we aren’t covering you anymore.
Has Morris gotten up off the floor yet?
He stayed down just long enough to get joker kicked out and suspended. Which is exactly what he wanted to happen.
Nah… you’re giving Morris waaay too much credit for that. Joker was getting kicked out and suspended regardless for that well-earned shot Morris received.
Morris was hurt – and embarrassed. Not used to anybody hitting HIM.
Jokic lost his cool, got kicked out, and suspended. Morris won.
His twin will even tell you he didn’t win.
Both players took an L.
But players around the league know who “won”, believe that.
Right.
Back in the day, teams would employ players to do exactly what Morris did. Get in the game, mess with the star on the other team and get him kicked out and suspended.
Morris won for sure. He rolled around long enough to get Jokic suspended.
Yeah… What would I know about the NBA back in those days? ;)
But… YOU win!
I hope Morris does test Jokic. So he will see who really is a man.
Yup
Is Alex Kirschenbaum a Heat fan?
That was more than mild shoulder check it was a stupid uncalled for frustration foul.
They singled Butler out because he got a “posse” together to try to look tough by “attempting” to confront Jokic in the locker room when he knew they’d get stopped by security.
Butler got off easy compared to Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green when they were both suspended for two games back in 2018 after playing the Clippers.
Butler is one my favorite players. And I know he’s backing his player and teammate. I get that totally. But Morris got what he deserved. I was Jokic. I would of walked out to back. And told Jimmy come on and you can bring Markief to help you. Freak That.
Agreed. I’m not sure how any reasonable interpretation of that foul by Morris would call it “mild.”
Typical Morris Crybaby Twin move.
Dude initiates a flagrant foul then turns his back on a guy he just did it to, Morris is a coward bully who got caught not understanding some dude from Serbia ain’t goin
This was a hate crime from Morris that the league typically ignores, like when Durant swung his elbows at Olynyk recently. Except this time the victim fought back, and certain people didn’t like it. Funny how that works.
Wow… you thought about that and posted it? Hate crime? That’s a bit over the top, no?
And three people liked the comment.
Joker is obviously the white knight in this scenario
So what was the crime when Olynyk separated K Love’s shoulder?
Morris is a punk who initiated the confrontation with a premeditated attack. Jokic was just a guy who reacted to being attacked within the range of normal human responses. Yet, these penalties are consistent with NBA rules. Disturbing, but not surprising, because the NBA rules actually track the general law of self defense. Victims of violent attacks are held to a heavy (almost impossible to meet) burden if they want to return violence upon their attackers. Unlike in the courts, however, there is no Jury to apply any common sense to the verdict. Just Adam Silver.
Not right that Jokic gets suspended for nothing…
Morris should be suspended for a veeery long time…
Butler ain’t no candidate to MVP, that is just as laughable as calling Morris action mild, get a grip Mr Kirschenbaum!
First off suspending Jimmy one game would be fair. He doesn’t need to escelate the situation.
Jokic being fined one game is fine but realistically gonna lose nothing compared to Morris. Who created the situation, looking shoddy there bro. If I was Nikola would have done the same thing, foolish
So when do they play against each other again!? It should be a good game!
“though Morris had initially instigated contact with a mild shoulder check seconds prior”
I realize the media in general shows their bias on the regular, but this is ridiculous.
Wasn’t mild, he went hard to his ribs. While he was vulnerable. He could of fouled without doing that.
Morris is always trying to get in a cheap shot. If Joker lets him get away with it, then every cheap shot artist in the NBA is gonna take a shot at Joker. I’ve loved the response by the athletes in the last 24 hours. “If the league isn’t gonna protect Joker, then Joker has to protect himself” (Shannon Sharpe). “If you cheap shot me, don’t turn around because the chicken leg is coming and you gonna get it, front back whatever” (Shaq and Barkley). Nuggets probably need an enforcer so Jokic isn’t forced to step up. If Morris tackled Steph Curry dribbling up the court, you know Draymond Green would take care of business. I’m happy not to see too much of this; and I’m happy Morris wasn’t seriously injured. I hope the refs help protect Jokic so that we don’t see more of this.