Monday night’s rematch between the Nuggets and Heat was one of the most highly anticipated games of the season.
After an altercation transpired between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris in Denver a few weeks ago, there has been a sense of tension between the two families, who have exchanged blows several times on social media.
“You should leave this the way it is instead of publicly threatening our brother! Your brother made a dirty play first. If you want to make a step further be sure we will be waiting for you !!,” the Jokic bros wrote in a scathing Twitter threat.
It was reported a while ago that the Jokic brothers had bought tickets to Monday night’s game, seemingly to be ready if anything got crazy.
While nothing like that happened, the Miami heat crowd was very hostile to the Joker, showering him with heavy boos from even before the game started.
Boos for Nikola Jokic. pic.twitter.com/EI23GFqpFW
— David Wilson (@DBWilson2) November 30, 2021
Normally, boos that heavy would have some kind of impact on the player receiving it. Though for Jokic, he did just fine with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assist in the 120-111 win.
After the game, he explained why he was left unimpressed by the “rowdy” audience:
I asked Nikola Jokic how he experienced the Heat crowd tonight
“I played in Serbia. I wish you could feel that. I played in Serbia.” pic.twitter.com/tZ7ikVXcQ7
— Five Reasons Sports 🏀🏈⚾️🏒⚽️ (@5ReasonsSports) November 30, 2021
European sports fans have a notoriously electric environment, and it really puts U.S. arenas to shame. Take a listen to this crowd from a Partizan Belgrade vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv match in 2010, and against Real Madrid in 2011:
Jokic grew up in that type of environment and is more than accustomed to loud and rowdy fans. If he can handle that, hearing some boos from a few Heat fans is like a walk in the park.
The bigger challenge for Jokic is trying to keep his team afloat without two key players in Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. At 10-10 on the season, things certainly haven’t been easy in that regard.
Still, Jokic has shown before he’s up for any challenge.
