Nikola Jokic, Mat Ishbia make amends after bizarre incident

After being the central figures in a bizarre courtside exchange, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia smoothed over any tension in a humorous exchange.

Prior to the start of Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals Tuesday night in Denver (10 p.m., TNT), Jokic was spotted dribbling over and handing the ball to Ishbia, a former Michigan State basketball player. The two hugged and Jokic walked away while seated next to Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker.

Two days earlier, Jokic was called for a technical foul for shoving Ishbia during the second quarter of Game 4 in Phoenix. After Suns guard Josh Okogie was diving for a ball out of bounds, it landed in the hands of Ishbia. Jokic, a two-time NBA MVP, attempted to grab the ball from Ishbia but it careened into the crowd. Jokic used his left forearm to bump Ishbia, who fell back into his seat, leading to the referees assessing the center with a technical foul. Phoenix won the game to tie the series at 2-2.

The NBA fined Jokic $25,000 for the incident and that was after Ishbia, the billionaire CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage who bought the Suns in December, publicly advocated for no additional punishment.

“Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far!” Ishbia wrote Monday on Twitter. “That should be and is the only story. Suspending or fining anyone over last nights incident would not be right. I have alot of respect for Jokic and don’t want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!”

Following Game 4, Jokic defended his actions in the brush with Ishbia.

“The fan put the hand on me first,” Jokic said, according to The Associated Press. “I thought the league was supposed to protect us. Maybe I am wrong. I know who he is, but he is a fan. Isn’t he?”

After Jokic tossed the ball to Ishbia and walked away on Tuesday night, Tucker smiled at the interaction.

Less than a week before Tucker signed a 10-year, $95 million contract extension in November 2021, Ishbia agreed to donate $14 million to the athletic department, which he told HBO’s “Real Sports” was for the extension. That was after he donated a record $32 million to the Michigan State athletic department in February of that year, with $20 million going to the ongoing renovation of the football facilities, which will be named the Tom Izzo Football Building, after the Hall of Fame Spartan coach Ishbia played for as a walk-on while winning a national championship.