“Nikola Jokic Trynna Get His 25Gs Back!”: Nuggets HC Describes 2x MVP’s Interaction With Suns Owner Mat Ishbia Before Game 5

Advait Jajodia | 10/05/2023
“Nikola Jokic Trynna Get His 25Gs Back!”: Nuggets HC Describes 2x MVP's Interaction With Suns Owner Mat Ishbia Before Game 5

After getting fined $25,000 for making contact with Mat Ishbia in Game 4, Nikola Jokic decided to mend things with the Phoenix Suns owner. Prior to the Suns-Nuggets Game 5 tipoff, the Joker went over to Ishbia, handed him the ball, and shared a laugh before heading to the locker room, much to Nuggets head coach, Mike Malone’s amusement too.

At one point in the first half of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, things got heated between the 2-time Most Valuable Player and the Arizona-based franchise’s owner. While retrieving the ball from the fans in the courtside seats, the Serbian superstar shoved Mat.

A costly physical interaction, the league soon announced that the 6-foot-11 big man would be fined $25,000. More importantly, the 5-time All-Star didn’t receive any suspension.

Mike Malone reveals why Nikola Jokic hugged Mat Ishbia

While many fans and analysts appreciated Jokic’s pregame gesture, Mike Malone revealed his true intentions of meeting up with the 43-year-old business tycoon.

In the postgame interview, the Nuggets’ head coach was asked to comment on the 28-year-old’s character after trying to squash his beef with Ishbia. Without any hesitation, the 51-year-old disclosed that Nikola was trying to “get his 25Gs back”. Malone further said:

“He’s trying to get his 25 Gs back. He ain’t no dummy.”

When Ernie Johnson asked him about the same incident, the Colorado-based franchise’s leader first said how he would be doing the same thing even if it was just any other fan. Later, the 8-year veteran jokingly revealed that he hoped Mat would reimburse him the entire amount of the fine.

The Joker recorded a huge triple-double in the Nuggets’ Game 5 win

After suffering back-to-back losses, the Denver Nuggets bounced back. Playing some incredible basketball, Mike Malone’s boys led the Suns for the majority of the clash.

Behind Nikola’s 29-point, 13-rebound, and 12-assist triple-double outing, the Nuggets grabbed a comfortable 118-102 win.

Having lodged a 10th career triple-double, the European star is majorly responsible for his team being 3-2 up in the series. Merely one win away from advancing to the WCF, Denver will definitely be expecting Kevin Durant and co. to fight back.

Post Edited By: Tonoy Sengupta
Denver Nuggets Mat Ishbia Nikola Jokic Phoenix Suns

About the author

Avatar photo

Advait Jajodia

Advait Jajodia, an NBA and Tennis journalist for The SportsRush, has had a passion for both sports for over a decade. His admiration for Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Rafael Nadal pushed him to gain a profound understanding of the sports. With a background as a multi-sport athlete, Advait uses his experience on the hardwood and the court to offer insightful analysis. Over four years of dedicated sports journalism has equipped the 22-year-old with a unique perspective, reflected in his prolific portfolio of 4,700+ articles.

Don’t miss these