Jokic Stands by Booing Fans Remark After Warriors Loss
Denver gave up 134 points at home, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic had 19 points and 11 assists, and at his press conference he repeated what he thinks of fans who boo.
Ball Arena in Denver emptied out before the final buzzer. Golden State was up by 24 points, and, according to Denver Sports, nobody booed this time. Nobody had to: a few days earlier, when the crowd did boo, Nikola Jokic said such fans were no longer welcome, and after the 134-114 loss he was asked whether he stood by those words.
What did Jokic say after the Golden State game?
At his press conference he answered briefly: “I’m sticking to what I said.” So he stands behind it. Then he explained why it bothers him so much: “I’m not used to that,” he said, adding “fans booing their own team.” He was also asked whether fans in Europe treat their own team that way, and the answer was: “I never heard that.”
He went back through his own career as well: “I played in front of 10 people, 50 people, 100 people.” The conclusion is the same as on Saturday: “I don’t think they are real fans.”
Serbian media carried his words in translation, each in its own way, so the wording varies. Here they appear as Denver Sports recorded them.
Where does it all come from?
The trigger was the first home game of the season, on Saturday against New Orleans. Denver trailed 108-89 going into the fourth quarter, the crowd booed for long stretches, and then Denver won in overtime, 141-135. After that game Jokic said: “If you guys follow us, you know that we never quit.” Right after: “So if they ask me, they’re not welcome anymore.”
The loss to Golden State brought no turnaround that would make anyone forget it. Denver is now 1-2 and Golden State 1-3, and the Warriors got their first win of the season after three straight losses to open it. The last time they avoided four consecutive losses to start a season was 2007/08.
How did the game go?
Jokic finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists, shooting 8 of 18 from the field and just one three-pointer on six attempts. He also had one steal and three blocks. He went to the bench with three minutes and 33 seconds left, with Denver down 21.
Denver allowed 74 points in the second half. Golden State shot 54.1 percent from the field, made 22 of 44 three-pointers and won the rebounding battle 50-36. The top scorer for the visitors was rookie Yaxel Lendeborg (Serbian outlets also spell his first name Jaksil or Aksel), a former University of Michigan player. He finished with 31 points and 12 rebounds, going 9 of 19 from the field and 12 of 13 at the free-throw line. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of him: “He’s as strong as an ox and skilled.”
Stephen Curry scored 24 points, making 8 of 8 shots. According to ESPN, he took just one shot in the first half, a three-pointer that went in, and in the third quarter he made all seven of his shots. Serbian media report that 21 of his 24 points came in the second half. Brandin Podziemski added 18 points.
For the home side, DeMar DeRozan was best with 21 points. Aaron Gordon scored seven points and was ejected in the fourth quarter after two technical fouls. Denver played without Alfa Dijal (wrist), Cameron Johnson (ankle), Spencer Jones (back) and Julian Strawther (knee).
The same day, Bogdan Bogdanovic had five points, two rebounds and one assist in Houston’s 120-110 win over Atlanta.
What comes next?
Denver plays New Orleans again on Wednesday night, the same opponent the crowd booed against on Saturday. Golden State plays at Minnesota the same day. Jokic has not changed his assessment, and how long the crowd will hold out this time will only be shown by the result.
