Nikola Jokic’s brothers were ready to throw down during Game 4 scrum

Jun 15, 2021, 1:24 PM

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is held back from Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns after a play that would result in Jokic's ejection in Game Four of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena on June 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

BY HABOOB BLOG

Arizona Sports

They may give you grief, but for the most part, siblings tend to have your back.

Just ask Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

The NBA MVP’s brothers, Nemanja and Strahinja Jokic, looked like they wanted every part of a scrum brewed up by their sibling’s flagrant 2 foul on Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne during Game 4 on Sunday night.

The Jokic brothers wanted every piece of available smoke 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/pmUUb4gELw

— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) June 15, 2021

During the exchange between the two teams, Jokic’s brothers can be seen becoming irate over the situation as two security guards try to calm down them down in the stands.

Following the foul on Payne, Jokic was confronted by Suns guard Devin Booker, adding even more fuel to the fire.

The brothers travel with Jokic throughout the season and provide an intense pairing in the stands.

We think Jokic would much rather take his brothers’ yelling from the sideline than another option used in the past, as mentioned by Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins in 2017.

[Nemanja] remembered Nikola mainly as the little kid Strahinja used to terrorize, tossing him from one bed to another in the family’s small apartment, often during heated games on a plastic mini hoop. “He once held down my arms and threw knives all around my head,” Nikola adds, punishment for refusing to climb a tree during a picnic. “That was a little crazy.”

If they were that mad about the scrum, imagine their reactions to Jokic’s ejection soon after.

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Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns celebrates towards Will Barton #5 of the Denver Nuggets after scoring off a turnover in Game Four of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena on June 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Head coach Monte Williams of the Phoenix Suns hugs Chris Paul #3 after action against the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena on June 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, shakes hands with injured Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray after the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns fans cheer as time runs out in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton reacts after dunking the ball in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, right, hangs from the rim after dunking the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton, front left, and center JaVale McGee defend in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers, left, consoles forward Michael Porter Jr. as he takes a seat on the bench after being pulled from the floor late in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo, right, tries to steal the ball from Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone waves to the crowd after the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig, left, congratulates guard Devin Booker as time runs out in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder, left, hugs forward Mikal Bridges as time runs out in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams, center, confers with players during a timeout late in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris, left, drives to the rim past Phoenix Suns forward Torrey Craig in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. Phoenix won 125-118 to sweep the series. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo, left, drives past Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee reacts as he is fouled in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is restrained after getting into an argument with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, argues with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, argues with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center front, in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, squares off with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, is restrained from fighting with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, second from left in front, in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, grabs Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front, is escorted from the court after being ejected for a flagrant foul in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Referee David Guthrie, right, struggles to keep Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, back, from fighting with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul, left, shoots for a basket as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Injured Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, center, follows Denver Nuggets guards Shaquille Harrison, front right, and Austin Rivers off the court to the locker room at the end of the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front left. squares off with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, squares off against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the second half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, center, goes up for a basket between Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and guard Austin Rivers in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, right, celebrates after scoring a basket with center JaVale McGee in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, goes up for a basket as Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, moves the ball inside as Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric defends in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, back, contests a shot by Denver Nuggets forward Will Barton in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton, front, fights for control of a rebound with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, pulls in a rebound in front of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker reacts after he was fouled while driving to the rim in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series againstt he Denver Nuggets Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo pursues in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, shoots over Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Members of the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets stand for the playing of the national anthem before Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) argues for a call with referee Rodney Mott (71) in the first half of Game 4 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns, Sunday, June 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Jae Crowder #99 of the Phoenix Suns blocks a shot attempt by Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Four of the Western Conference second-round playoff series at Ball Arena on June 13, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

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