PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 07: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets reaches for the basketball after pushing off Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia (L) during the first half of Game Four of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 07, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 129-124. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

An aggressive fan is an aggressive fan, but things change a bit when he is the billionaire owner of the team.

Near the end of the second quarter, Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia was involved in an incident with star center Nikola Jokic during Phoenix’s 129-124 Game 4 win on Sunday.

Ishbia ended up with the ball after Suns forward Josh Okogie dove into the stands trying to save the ball from going out of bounds. He would hold onto it instead of giving it to the refs.

When Jokic went to retrieve the ball, it flew backward. He then made contact with Ishbia, who flew backward.

However, some on social media argued that Ishbia exaggerated his fall after taking a push from Jokic while others want him suspended for his elbow.

Well, that was an, uh, interesting half. Good night to have ‘Inside’ to weigh in at halftime. Love that the Suns owner threw his hands up to flop his way to a foul call. But kind of wondering why Mat Ishbia doesn’t get better seats.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) May 8, 2023

Even the owners flop in this league ? #Suns #NBAPlayoffs #Nuggets https://t.co/vPMNKyvSxQ

— IB THE GAMBLER ? (@incarceratedbob) May 8, 2023

I’m done w this league if they don’t suspend Jokic https://t.co/1Tqdm1PLOO

— Anthony Nash (@_anthonynash) May 8, 2023

I think the NBA should suspend Jokic because white on white crime is rampant these days and someone needs to make an example out of their kind.

— • (@CuhWristChin__) May 8, 2023

Jokic explained that he was trying to retrieve the ball quickly to give the Nuggets an advantage on offense, given Okogie was tangled up in the crowd.
“[The ref] told me I was elbowing the fan,” Jokic, who scored 53 points, said. “But the fan put the hand on me first. So I thought the league’s supposed to protect us or whatever, but maybe I’m wrong, so we will see.”
Jokic got a technical on the play and the NBA is likely to review the altercation to see if it warrants a suspension for Tuesday’s pivotal Game 5 in Denver.

The series is now even at two games apiece as each team protected their home court with two wins each.