The Denver Nuggets faced off against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night and expressed their frustrations with the officiating, following a loss in Cleveland the previous night. Nikola Jokic, already vocal about the officiating with the team’s low free throw rate, seemed to carry over his frustrations into the game. He was on the referees from the onset and was ejected before the first quarter ended. Coach Michael Malone also expressed his frustration and was also ejected before the game began.

The questionable nature of both ejections has brought attention to the quick-trigger and thin-skinned nature of NBA refereeing this season. Some argue that a balance needs to be struck between maintaining control of the game and allowing for passionate play and expression of emotion from players. While there is a need to maintain a level of authority in games, some believe that allowing players to show their emotions leads to more passionate and compelling play, which ultimately benefits audiences. The ejection of important players can be seen as detrimental to the entertainment value of