Utah Jazz announcers didn’t hold back their vexation with Nikola Jokic’s friendly whistle.
Play-by-play voice Craig Bolerjack and analyst Thurl Bailey were up in arms with the Nuggets star and his flopping “antics” during Denver’s 128–125 win on Monday night in Salt Lake City.
Bailey, the former Jazz forward, picked up on Jokic’s presumed star treatment in the first half, when Jazz guard Elijah Harkless got called for a foul on contact that was seemingly both initiated and reacted to by the three-time league MVP.
“He sold it,” Bailey said. “Watch Harkless, little bump. And then watch Jokić, pow! Sniper in the building. I mean, come on.”
Bailey and Bolerjack’s shared frustration boiled over as Jokic continued to draw ticky-tack fouls throughout the second half, racking up 11 free-throw attempts en route to a 22-point, 12-rebound performance.
“I don’t know why the officials fall for that,” Bailey said, watching Jazz forward Ace Bailey get dinged for a foul after Jokic fell to the hardwood during a loose ball.
“And it’s just me personally, maybe. But you got two guys hooked up, and the defense gets the call. That really is a Jokić antic, and I think the officials ought to know that that’s what it is. Either just let them play, or give them both a foul!”
While watching the replay from the Jazz sideline, Jaren Jackson Jr. appeared to mouth: “That’s a f–king flop bro!”
Even with the calls going his way, Jokic continued badgering the referees for whistles, which seemingly irked the Jazz more than the officials themselves.
“Yeah, and this is the Jokić antics right here,” Bailey ranted. “He’s complaining to the ref about what? I mean, it’s been happening all night. He just knocked the ball out of your hands. So, there’s no complaint. Just play!”
In the final seconds of the game, Bailey said, “I’d like to be in the huddle right now with the officials. There’s some obvious things that I saw in the game tonight, according to how this league makes calls. And it just seemed a little lopsided with the antics of one player being able to control that.”
The perennial MVP, 31, draws around seven fouls per game, trailing only fellow superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic for the NBA lead.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
