'It ain't like I'm a small guy' — Markieff Morris dares Nikola Jokic's MMA-trained brothers to box
In a lively episode of "The Big Podcast" hosted by
NBA
legend Shaquille O'Neal on July 24, 2025, Markieff and Marcus Morris, twin brothers and seasoned NBA players, threw down a bold challenge.
They dared Nikola Jokic's brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja Jokic, to step into a boxing ring to settle an old score.
The conversation, sparked by co-host Adam Lefkoe's comment about fearing Jokic's towering siblings, turned into a heated exchange about size, strength, and a potential fists-only showdown.
Markieff Morris
flexes his 6-10 frame on The Big Podcast
The joking began when Adam Lefkoe remarked to the crew, "I'm super scared of Jokic's brother. That guy is massive.
He's got a mohawk and everything." Markieff Morris was quick to respond — 'What does it mean? The bigger they are, the harder they fall. We big too. I'm 6-10, 270. It ain't like I'm a small guy. I'm bigger than them.' On "The Big Podcast," Markieff showed off his confidence in his 6-foot-10, 270-pound physique, shrugging off any thoughts that the Jokic brothers' size would intimidate him.
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Marcus Morris, playing for the LA Clippers, jumped in to back his twin: 'Yeah, for sure! We can get as long as they don't use their feet, we can get it on.'
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he reiterated the condition, stating, "As long as you can't use your feet. No kicking," in the same podcast conversation. The Morris brothers seemed to be aiming for a pure boxing match, mindful of the Jokic brothers' talents that extend past just boxing.
Shaquille O'Neal, steering the conversation, asked, 'Oh because one of them is an MMA fighter?' to which Marcus replied, 'They'd be grabbing feet and all that. We can't do that.
We can get it on straight.' This discussion, taken from "The Big Podcast," confirmed that Nemanja Jokic's MMA history was a major concern. Adam Lefkoe summed it up by saying, "So strictly boxing," and Marcus nodded in agreement, saying, "Only boxing," making the terms unmistakably clear.
Markieff Morris recalls the 2021 incident with Nikola Jokic
The dare from the Morris twins goes back to a heated moment in 2021, during an NBA matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat.
Markieff Morris, who was playing for the Heat at the time, committed a hard foul on Nikola Jokic, elbowing him as Jokic was bringing the ball up the court in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets were already dominating the Heat, and Morris's foul seemed to ignite a response. Jokic retaliated by pushing Morris from behind, causing him to crash to the floor.
Morris ended up with a neck injury that sidelined him for 58 games, while Jokic received a one-game suspension and Morris was fined $50,000.
The fallout didn't stop there. Marcus Morris tweeted that night, 'Waited till bro turned his back smh. NOTED,' hinting at payback. Nikola's brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, hit back by creating a Twitter account, @JokicBrothers, and posted: 'You should leave this the way it is instead of publicly threatening our brother! Your brother made a dirty play first. If you want to make a step further be sure we will be waiting for you !! Jokic Brothers.
' This online spat turned a one-off scuffle into a family feud.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Morris twins are using Shaq's podcast to bring the rivalry back to life. In the episode, Markieff reflected on the 2021 incident and described Jokic's shove as a 'cheap shot,' saying, 'I did a basketball play... He hit me from behind... I'm not even in the mode of knowing you're about to hit me.'
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The concept of a boxing match featuring the Morris and Jokic brothers is tantalizing, but it's a stretch.
Making it happen would involve navigating contracts, safety protocols, and securing approvals from the NBA and other organizations, not to mention the injury risks for professional athletes. Yet, the banter on the podcast illustrates just how genuine the rivalry appears. Shaq, who dubbed Nikola his 'favorite big man' on the show, even sided with the Morris twins against the Jokic brothers' antics, adding fuel to the fire.
FAQs
Which podcast featured this conversation about the Jokic brothers?
The exchange happened on "The Big Podcast" with Shaquille O'Neal.
What did Markieff Morris say about Jokic's brothers' size?
He claimed he's bigger than them and not intimidated.
Which NBA team does Marcus Morris play for?
Marcus Morris currently plays for the LA Clippers.
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