Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was ejected against the Chicago Bulls with 1:08 remaining in the second quarter.
After missing a shot at the rim, Jokic yelled toward official Mousa Dagher. The two-time MVP was given a technical foul and instantly ejected from the game, drawing boos from the Chicago crowd since it was Serbian Heritage Night at the United Center.
According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, Jokic said, “Call the foul motherfu**er.”
“Sometimes it’s not even a technical,” Jokic said after the Nuggets-Bulls game. “I crossed the line, I understand, but sometimes that word doesn’t cross the line. It is what it is.”
The Nuggets beat the Bulls despite Jokic getting ejected. Jokic finished with four points, nine rebounds and six assists in 16 minutes. The future Hall of Famer knew people in the United Center crowd were there to see him play since Chicago has a large Serbian population.
“It’s the second-biggest Serbian population here,” Jokic said. “Belgrade [Serbia] is the first, and Chicago is the second. So, maybe they came to see me.”
Jokic has been ejected two times this season. The first time was against the Detroit Pistons on November 20. The five-time All-Star is averaging 27.2 points, 12.6 rebounds and 9.4 assists on the season while shooting 53.8% from the field, 31.2% from beyond the arc and 77.8% from the free-throw line.
The Nuggets are 16-9 on the season. They are in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Denver head coach Michael Malone, who is close with Jokic, talked about the ejection after the game as well.
“Maybe I have to do a better job because if he’s getting fouled or he thinks he’s getting fouled, let me take the tech,” Malone said. “That’s my job as a head coach because I don’t want him being put in that position where he is getting thrown out because it’s not good for him and more importantly it’s not good for the team.”
The NBA fined Jokic $4,000 for his ejection.
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