He can be charged for deliberately entering the stands
Denver Nuggets leader Nikola Jokic might get a suspension for his tumble with Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ishbia. Under the “player conduct” portion of the NBA rulebook, it’s an automatic ejection for “deliberately entering the stands other than as a continuance of play.”
Jokic said he was trying to get the ball back during the dead ball because he saw a five-on-four situation going the other way. You could wonder if that would pass for “continuance of play” should the Nuggets need to defend their best player against a suspension in the NBA’s court of law.
The rulebook makes clear that “the first row of seats is considered the beginning of the stands.