After Denver Nuggets superstar center Nikola Jokic and new Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia got into a bit of a fracas during Sunday’s playoff game, the two seem to have let bygones be bygones.
Sunday’s strange sideline scuffle led to Jokic grabbing a ball from Ishbia that had gone out of bounds and subsequently elbowing him when it looked like Ishbia was trying to keep the ball. The former got called for a technical foul, and the latter got roasted online for an embellished flop after the benign elbow.
It looked more like a misunderstanding than an act of malice, as Ishbia said Jokic should not be suspended by the NBA for the incident.
Before Game 5 between the Nuggets and Suns, Jokic and Ishbia buried the hatchet as the Denver player playfully gave the new Phoenix owner a basketball and a quick embrace as he was walking off the court.
Jokic and Suns owner Mat Ishbia. 🤝
(via @espn_macmahon)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 10, 2023
In what could’ve been an annoyingly drawn-out confrontation, kudos to Jokic and Ishbia for being adults and putting this situation behind them.
It’s a breath of fresh air in this day and age for people to just handle their business like professionals, and it’s much appreciated for all the folks at home who just want to watch the game without any unnecessary drama.