Nikola Jokic Seems To Suggest Refs Who Ejected Him Would Be Unsafe If Game Was Played In Serbia

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The lineup of NBA games on Tuesday, December 12 featured two notable ejections: one deserved (Draymond Green, for punching Jusuf Nurkic in the face), and one preposterously uncalled for. The ridiculous one happened to two-time MVP and defending NBA champion Nikola Jokic.

During the second quarter of Tuesday night’s Chicago Bulls vs. Denver Nuggets game, Nikola Jokic was ejected after he said something to one of the officials following what he believed was a missed foul call.

As many have pointed out on social media, the ejection is not only absurd without context — unless Jokic threatened the ref, there’s no way he should be tossed without warning like that — but with context, too: NBA fans pay to see players like Jokic, not referees.

After the game, the 28-year-old Jokic was asked about the ejection and seemed to suggest that if the game was played in his native country of Serbia, the officials would find themselves in a bit of trouble. To be clear, Jokic doesn’t explicitly say that, but it’s implied.

“I do not know [what happened there]. It is what it is. I am just happy that we did not play in Serbia this game. It could have been really funny to see how it would be handled. It was interesting,” Jokic said.

“Some guys can say whatever. I think sometimes what I say is not even a technical foul. It is what it is,” he continued. “No, I crossed the line, but sometimes that word does not cross the line. I like my money, so I am not gonna say… whatever.”

“I’m just happy that we didn’t play in Serbia, this game. It’s could’ve been really fun to see how it would be handled.” – Nikola Jokić 👀 pic.twitter.com/cYmOwJQPOt

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 13, 2023

One viral tweet, which has over 47,000 likes at the time of this writing, summed up how everyone seemed to take Jokic’s comments, joking that “Dawg said he would’ve put 200 racks on each official’s head back home.”

This season, Jokic is averaging 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists per game, which likely puts him on track for his third MVP award in four years.