Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was ejected just before halftime from last night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
Jokic was kicked out by official Mousa Dagher after one technical foul “because he directed profane language at the official that by our standards warranted an ejection,” crew chief Mark Lindsay said postgame.
However, the crowd at the United Center on Serbian Heritage Night was angry at the decision, voicing their displeasure with a chorus of boos. Even Chicago Bulls announcers Adam Amin and Stacey King were stunned by Jokic’s ejection.
“That doesn’t seem fair at all,” Amin said.
“That’s excessive,” King agreed. “The people didn’t come to see the officials, let’s be honest, they came to see the players.”
Nikola Jokic is immediately ejected from the Bulls-Nuggets for arguing a no-call and even Bulls announcers Adam Amin and Stacey King are in disbelief.
“The people didn’t come to see the officials, let’s be honest, they came to see the players.”
It’s Serbian Heritage Night in… pic.twitter.com/w8ejIp4AMX
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Jokic was arguing for a foul call when he was tossed, saying postgame that he “crossed a line” with this language but remaining surprised he was ejected for it.
The two-time NBA MVP logged four points, nine rebounds and six assists in 16 minutes before hitting the showers. Denver eventually won the game 114-106 to move to 16-9 on the season.