Following the Denver Nuggets’ thrilling victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA playoffs, an incident involving a man purportedly identified as one of Nikola Jokic’s brothers has sparked investigations by both the NBA and Denver police.
Video footage circulating on social media captures a heated altercation in the stands, where a man donning a Jokić jersey, allegedly Nikola’s older brother Strahinja Jokić, is seen punching another individual. The exact trigger for the altercation remains unclear, but the video shows the man in the Jokić jersey descending a row of seats to deliver the blow. But it doesn’t appear as though the situation escalated past that, as the individual who was struck turned away without retaliation.
An NBA spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that the league is actively examining the incident. Meanwhile, the Denver Police Department has also initiated an investigation, urging any witnesses or participants to come forward.
As for Strahinja Jokić, this isn’t his first brush with controversy. In 2019, he faced legal trouble after being arrested for an altercation involving a woman in a Denver apartment. Although initially charged with several offenses, he eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count.
Moreover, the Jokić brothers have been involved in previous confrontations. In November 2021, they engaged in a social media exchange with NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris following an on-court incident involving Nikola and Markieff. This exchange escalated tensions further, indicating a history of confrontational behavior.
Furthermore, in June 2021, a video surfaced depicting Strahinja and Nikola’s other brother, Nemanja, engaging in a heated exchange with Suns players, necessitating intervention by arena security. This incident arose from a physical altercation involving Nikola and Devin Booker, triggered by a hard foul on former Suns player Cameron Payne. Subsequently, Nikola was ejected from the game as tensions flared on the court.
Additionally, in November 2021, Jokic’s brothers found themselves embroiled in a social media feud with NBA players Marcus and Markieff Morris. The dispute originated from Nikola’s ejection during a game against the Miami Heat following a late hit on Markieff. Heat players came to Markieff’s defense, resulting in a confrontation that required player separation. Subsequently, Marcus took to social media, alleging that Nikola deliberately targeted Markieff from behind, stating, “Waited till bro turned his back” before striking him. Marcus concluded his post with the word “NOTED,” hinting at potential retaliation against the Nuggets’ star player.
In response, Jokic’s brothers created an X account (formerly known as Twitter) to address the situation directly. They cautioned Marcus against publicly threatening their brother, stating, “You should leave this the way it is instead of publicly threatening our brother…If you want to make a step further we will be waiting for you.”
