Nuggets HC Michael Malone Sees No Problem in Nikola Jokic’s “Motherf***er” Aim at the Referee, Calls It “Term of Endearment”

Nikola Jokić was ejected from the Nuggets-Bulls game with 1:08 left in the second quarter for arguing a no-call with referee Mousa Dagher. Jokić was certainly displeased with the call, as was his head coach, Michael Malone. This marks the second time Jokić has been ejected in three weeks, as tensions flared in a previous game against the Pistons where both the Serb and Malone were tossed out. Jokic received a technical for arguing over a disputed call against the Pistons. And when Malone entered the court to challenge that, he was also ejected from the game. 

In a post-game interview, the head coach expressed no issue with Jokic’s use of a cuss word that led to his second ejection. Malone sees no problem with the choice of words and he even joked about it. 

Malone has an entirely different view on this

During a play, Jokic took a reverse layup with Bulls‘ center Nikola Vučević making contact with his motion. Jokic turned to Dagher to voice his frustration over the missed call. According to the league sources, the word preceding Jokic’s directive to the official was “motherf***er, call the f**ing foul.” Dagher didn’t interrupt as the Bulls concluded their fastbreak. Mounting to Jokic’s frustrations, he was ejected out of the game for using the cuss word. 

The referee who ejected Jokic asked Malone if he heard what Jokic said. Although Malone did not want to repeat the phrase in the interview, he felt the ejection was unwarranted, stating, “When I heard what he said, I said, ‘I don’t understand the problem because when I grew up, that was a term of endearment in my house.’Jokic had 4 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in the game. 

Nikola Jokic wasn’t happy 

Many fans were also in shock after the referee’s decision, but Jokic expressed acceptance that his language called for ejection, saying, “Sometimes what I said is not even a technical. So it is what it is.” He sarcastically added, “I’m just happy that we didn’t play in Serbia this game. It would have been really fun to see how it would have ended.

READ MORE: “Happy We Didn’t Play in Serbia”: Nikola Jokic’s Europe Claim After Ejection Invites Sudden Plan Change for Tari Eason’s Mom

Despite Jokic’s early ejection and key players Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also missing, the Nuggets secured a win with a score of 106-114. They will next face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday at the Ball Arena. Do you think they can continue their winning streak? Let us know in the comments.

Watch This Story: Steve Kerr Brutally Slams Referees’ “Never Heard” Rule for Harsh Draymond Green Ejection