The debate over superstar bias in sports leagues is a recurring topic, often exaggerated but occasionally backed by notable incidents. One such moment unfolded today, involving Nikola Jokić. The three-time MVP for the Denver Nuggets found himself in a brief standoff with the officials during a game against the San Antonio Spurs. While taking free throws, Jokic halted play for a few seconds, visibly frustrated by what he perceived as a subpar pass from the referee—a small but telling episode that reignites the conversation around preferential treatment for the league’s elite players.

In the current NBA environment, any dig or inflated reaction can land technicals. However, today when Jokic did the same, the referee took accountability. He apologized for the pass and the game continued. It didn’t seem to be an issue. But the Celtics center, Al Horford’s sister Anna wasn’t going to let it slide.

“The favoritism in this league is wild,” she wrote in a tweet reacting to the incident.

It wasn’t a technical-worthy incident by any measure. But the conversations grow from the treatment of players around the league. In particular, the Boston Celtics can be a good reference. On numerous occasions, the franchise cornerstone Jayson Tatum has been the victim of questionable technical fouls.

Once it came for just slapping his hands together. And this warranted some support from fans.

NBA fans support Anna Horford’s claim against Nikola Jokić

It’s only right to start with the section of fans from the Celtics. There have been compilations made around the ‘soft’ technical fouls called against Jayson Tatum. Even this season when playing against the Brooklyn Nets he got a technical foul for discussing with the referees.

Hence, one fan sarcastically wrote, “Tatum would’ve gotten called on a tech, ejected, and suspended for that”. Jokic, who is hardly reactive, doesn’t often get in trouble with the referees. Still, there have been incidents in the past when the Joker has had a whistle called against him in questionable scenarios.

This seemed to be a moment when Nikola Jokić was only asking for the officials to be immersed in the game. And it was interpreted by several fans as just that. One such fan replied to Anna Horford’s take saying “Nah this s–t is funny that was a horrible pass he should give himself a tech,”.

Horford couldn’t agree more. But she clarified that her issue isn’t with Nikola Jokić, but rather the conduct of the league. In response, she wrote, “Then treat every player the same across the board. Not everyone could get away with this”. As audacious as it might sound, there might be some truth to it.

Such a conversation seems to have also grown around Jokic. Many from the NBA community how other players such as Draymond Green would instantly get in trouble with the officials. But just because it’s Jokic, they feel he got away with it. “Golden Boy so it’s a chuckle, Draymond getting 35 to life for that” one such comment read.

Sadly, it’s not just this foul call that has gone against the Nuggets superstar. Having won the three MVPs in the last four seasons, the Joker has done so by putting up outrageous statistics and performances. Each of his conquests is well-backed. Still, there was a looming sentiment over some, in particular last season, when many fans felt Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should have won the trophy over Nikola Jokić.

But blaming it all on Nikola Jokić seems unfair. A section of the fans didn’t feel the superstar itself was the problem. Rather, they felt the officiating in the NBA has deteriorated as a whole. Depending on the day, the calls against any player in the league can differ. And to that, a fan summed up their frustrations.

“I wish the refs at least gave this respect to all superstars across the board, but the inconsistency among them is ridiculous by the NBA,” they wrote. Hence, while the Joker may have gotten the better end of the stick this time, another time, he might be hit with worse consequences too.