Author: Monojit Mandal
During Game 4 of the Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets series, an incident occurred between Nuggets star Nikola Joki and new Suns owner Mat Ishbia, which frightened fans and players alike.
Ishbia, who took over ownership of the Phoenix Suns in February, has already caused controversy in the league with his questionable behavior. But the most recent case surpasses them all.
It all started in the second quarter when the ball fell near Ishbia, who was sitting on the edge of the court. Ishbia took the ball without hesitation, and Joki ran up and took it out of his hands, generating a commotion, in which other fans in the area stood up and confronted him.
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But the magic didn’t stop there. When Joki made contact with him with his elbow, Ishbia fell back into his seat, in what many are calling an obvious flip. Ishbia’s decision to sell his contract actually benefited the Suns, as the Nuggets star received a technical foul for the incident.
Although Ishbia will never score a point in the NBA, this event directly resulted in a point for the Suns. After the foul on Joki, Kevin Durant made the technical free throw.
The event went viral instantly, with many NBA fans taking note. Some were outraged by the decision, while others praised Ishbia for his incredible move.
The Suns went into the game trailing 2-1 in the series, making a win in Game 4 on their home court crucial. While some may question the ethics of Ishbia’s activities, there is no doubt that he had a direct influence on the big game.
![](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2023/05/08/PPHX/f4a77132-b851-450f-9507-1550c7928e1c-uscp-7q3vefisfih19suilc6o_original.jpg?crop=3399,1912,x0,y282&width=3200&height=1801&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
It remains to be seen what other mischief Ishbia will bring to the court over the course of the series. But one thing’s for sure: this new owner isn’t afraid to make some noise in the league.
The incident between Ishbia and Joki sparked a discussion among NBA fans and players about the ethics of flopping. While some think that committing fouls to gain an advantage is a smart strategy, others believe that it violates the spirit of fair play.