The NBA’s one-game suspension of Nikola Jokic did not surprise Michael Malone.
On Wednesday, just before tip-off against the Pacers at Ball Arena, the Nuggets’ head coach was in a joking mood.
“Fair or unfair, it doesn’t really matter. The penalty was handled and delivered by the NBA. You respect their decision and you move on,” Malone said. “I think most people assumed that he would be suspended for one game and thatap what happened. Nikola said he’ll be watching the game tonight drinking a glass of red wine.
“I said: I hope your baby has a bad case of diarrhea.”
It appears the Miami Heat are also moving on from the well-documented shoving match between Jokic and Markieff Morris. Heat power forward Udonis Haslem was even complimentary of Jokic in .
“Obviously in a situation like that, alpha males and reactions take over,” Haslem said. “A couple of days later, we all want whatap best for everybody. I don’t think Jokic is a bad guy. I actually love him as a basketball player and I love him as a person. I think he’s a really good guy. I think emotions just got the best of everybody.
“Looking at it a day or two later, I wish it wouldn’t have gone down the way it went down. But I don’t think he’s a bad guy, nor do I think he’s a dirty player. I’m also a guy who has definitely let emotions get the best of me sometimes. But I never hit (anybody) in the back, and I think thatap where it got a little murky. But I don’t think he’s a bad guy, and I don’t think he meant to hurt anybody. We don’t hold grudges, so itap time to move on.”
The absence of Jokic on Wednesday opened the door for Nuggets’ reserves like Bol Bol and Zeke Nnaji to earn meaningful playing time against the Pacers.
“Without Nikola Jokic, that allows and affords you the opportunity to play some guys that maybe haven’t gotten a chance to play real minutes this year,” Malone said. “Any in-game experience … when itap real minutes, those are invaluable for those young players.”
Bol — a 2019 second-round NBA Draft pick — was the Nuggets’ star of Summer League after a mostly underwhelming first two pro seasons in Denver. Nnaji — a 2020 first-round NBA Draft pick — showed flashes of elite talent while playing sparingly as a rookie. Neither has seen the floor much early on this season.
“I just hope those guys go out there, take a deep breath, don’t let their nerves get the best of them, calm down and play the game,” Malone said. “They all work so hard. (Wednesday) will be a good opportunity for them to get out there and try to help us get another home win.”
