Strahinja Jokic, the older brother of Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, has been sentenced to one year of probation following a courtside altercation that went viral during a Nuggets–Lakers game in April 2024, according to The Denver Post.
The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to trespassing and disorderly conduct after punching a Lakers fan, identified as Nicholas Meyer, at Ball Arena.
The trespassing charge is a misdemeanor, while disorderly conduct is considered a petty offense under Colorado law.
Meyer claimed in court that the attack left him with a concussion, facial cuts, bruises, and a deviated septum.
“The assault shattered my sense of safety and control,” Meyer said, via 9News. “I became fearful of leaving my home, especially with my family. I worry constantly about retaliation, not just from the Jokic family, but from fans who might recognize me and act out violently.”
Initially, Strahinja was charged with third-degree assault after video of the incident circulated across social media.
He later told investigators that he struck Meyer while trying to protect an elderly man he’s known “for a long time,” per CBS News.
One of Nikola Jokic brothers punches a fan after Lakers Vs Nuggets Game 2 👀 pic.twitter.com/f0wLgKAV1q
— 𝓗𝓮𝔁𝓲𝔂𝔂𝔂 🇳🇿 (@Hexiyyy) April 23, 2024
This isn’t the first time Strahinja Jokic has faced legal issues.
In 2019, he was charged with assault and ultimately pleaded guilty to a felony trespassing count and a misdemeanor obstruction charge as part of a deferred sentence. He was accused of choking and pushing a woman and preventing her from calling 911.
That case was dismissed in 2022 after Strahinja successfully completed unsupervised probation and avoided further offenses.
While Nikola Jokic has not commented publicly on the incident, the Denver District Attorney’s Office confirmed the sentencing Friday. For now, Strahinja will serve his one-year probation while staying clear of further legal trouble.
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