There is no doubt that sometimes, incidents and altercations in the NBA get physical due to heated tempers. That has previously happened during this season in a Nuggets-Heat game.
During that game, Heat forward Marcus Morris committed a dirty foul on Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. As a result, Nikola Jokic shoved him in the back, which has led to Markieff Morris missing a lot of games, and he is currently still sidelined.
That incident has led to what is perceived as a rivalry featuring Nikola Jokic and his siblings against the Miami Heat. However, Jimmy Butler has recently claimed they don’t have a rivalry, and added that Nikola Jokis is “a hell of a player”. Adam Caparell of Complex Sports relayed the news.
I don’t think that’s a rivalry. It sounds good. But I don’t even want to get into it. He’s a hell of a player.
It seems as though Jimmy Butler isn’t holding any grudges against Jokic. There seems to be a similar sentiment from other players on the Heat. Respected Heat veteran Udonis Haslem previously came to Nikola Jokic’s defense after the incident, claiming that Jokic “isn’t a bad guy“.
Obviously in a situation like that, alpha males and reactions take over. A couple of days later, we all want what’s best for everybody. I don’t think Jokic is a bad guy. I actually love him as a basketball player and I love him as a person. I think he’s a really good guy. I think emotions just got the best of everybody.
Looking at it a day or two later, I wish it wouldn’t have gone down the way it went down. But I don’t think he’s a bad guy, nor do I think he’s a dirty player. I’m also a guy who has definitely let emotions get the best of me sometimes. But I never hit nobody in the back, and I think that’s where it got a little murky. But I don’t think he’s a bad guy, and I don’t think he meant to hurt anybody. We don’t hold grudges, so it’s time to move on.
There is no doubt that Nikola Jokic had no intention to injure Markieff Morris in that incident. It is clear at this point that most people have moved on, and understand that it was the heat of the moment incident.
The Miami Heat have done well this year, and they are currently the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference. Getting Markieff Morris would certainly be a boost to their bench, and hopefully, we see him return to the court soon.
