The Pool Report interview was conducted by Duane Rankin (Arizona Republic) with Crew Chief Tony Brothers following tonight’s Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns game.

May 7, 2023

 

QUESTION: Why did Nikola Jokic receive an unsportsmanlike technical foul for the fan exchange late in the first half?

 

BROTHERS: The ball went over into the corner there and one of the fans was holding the ball. Jokic came to get the ball, grabbed it away from the fan, then after that he deliberately gave him a shove and pushed him down, so he was issued an unsportsmanlike technical foul.

 

QUESTION: So, he pushed the fan down?

 

BROTHERS: Yes

 

QUESTION: It’s the same fan that had the ball, right?

 

BROTHERS: The fan no longer had the ball, but it was the fan that started with the ball.

 

QUESTION: What led to him getting the unsportsmanlike technical foul instead of being ejected?

 

BROTHERS: I just deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty for what happened over there. He didn’t just run over and hit a fan. There was some engagement, so I deemed the technical foul the appropriate penalty.