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Nikola Jokic’s frustration with Jaden McDaniels could leave the Denver Nuggets star waiting on the NBA league office.

Jokic sprinted toward McDaniels late in the Nuggets-Timberwolves matchup after what appeared to be an “unwritten rules” violation by the Minnesota forward. On the broadcast, Mike Breen said Jokic was “clearly upset with McDaniels trying to score.”

That does not automatically mean Jokic will be suspended. But it does put the incident in the category of plays the NBA can review after the fact, especially if officials or the league believe the confrontation crossed from ordinary playoff frustration into unsportsmanlike conduct.

The NBA rulebook gives officials broad authority to assess technical fouls for conduct deemed “detrimental to the game,” including taunting, overt resentment toward a call or no-call, or unnatural acts toward an opponent. It also states that additional unsportsmanlike conduct after a game can be reported to the league office.

What NBA Penalty Could Nikola Jokic Face?

The most realistic postgame penalty, if the league decides one is warranted, would be a fine.

The NBA’s rules allow the commissioner to impose a fine of up to $50,000 and/or a suspension for fighting fouls or other reviewed conduct. The same rulebook also notes that fines or suspensions can be imposed at the commissioner’s discretion even if a player is not ejected.

A suspension would be a higher bar.

That usually becomes more likely when there is a punch, attempted punch, fighting foul, escalation involving multiple players, or bench players leaving the immediate bench area during an altercation. NBA rules state that fighting participants are ejected immediately, and that bench players who leave the bench area during an altercation face a minimum one-game suspension.

The key question is whether Jokic’s sprint toward McDaniels was viewed as a confrontation that required league discipline or as a heat-of-the-moment playoff exchange that officials handled on the floor.

A fine — or no additional discipline — could be more plausible than a suspension if the league determines it to be an emotional outburst.