Nuggets Coach Slams Suns Owner Mat Ishbia After Scuffle With Nikola Jokic

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacted to the Jokic and Ishbia scuffle

© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was assessed a technical foul during Game 4 for making contact with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia. It was a bizarre scene, as Ishbia was holding onto the ball while Jokic was trying to get it back. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacted to the play after the game, slamming Ishbia for holding onto the ball, making it clear that he does not care who the Suns owner is.

"I think it's crazy that Nikola [Jokic] got a technical foul," Malone said. "He's going to get the ball and some fan is holding onto the ball like he wants to be a part of the game. Just give the ball up, man." When told that the fan was Suns owner Mat Ishbia, Malone said, "I don't give a sh-t. I really don't care."

Mike Malone: "I think it's crazy that Nikola [Jokic] got a technical foul… He's going to get the ball and some fan is holding onto the ball like he wants to be apart of the game."

Reporter: "The fan was the owner of the Suns."

MM: "I don't give a sh*t."pic.twitter.com/pMrfe1HUGE

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 8, 2023

It will be interesting to see if the league issues any additional rulings following a more extensive review of the situation. It was certainly an odd scenario, and one the Nuggets are understatedly not happy about. As coach Malone made clear, he does not care who the person was who had the ball.

The Nuggets fell to the Suns in this entertaining Game 4, as the series is now tied 2-2 heading back to Denver for Game 5. As of right now, the league has only issued a Pool Report on the incident with Jokic and Ishbia.

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