NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 05: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder gestures against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at the Barclays Center on December 5, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Russell Westbrook had another run-in with Utah Jazz fans after the Thunder’s 98-89 victory Monday night. This time, the fan should probably be banned.
Russell Westbrook is a polarizing figure. When it comes to interaction with the media and fans, he hasn’t had the best moments throughout his career. His patience with the media is thin, and he has zero tolerance for disrespectful fans as we found out in last year’s playoffs against Utah and this year against the Denver Nuggets.
On Monday night, two Utah Jazz fans, according to Westbrook, were way out of line and Westbrook was caught on camera confronting and threatening them.
Here, we can see an obviously irate Westbrook. Five Jazz fans were issues warning cards for their behavior. But again, that may not be enough.
No one should be told to be on their “knees like you used to.” Westbrook is a human being first and foremost, and he should be treated as such.
The real question is what would drive fans to say such things to anybody? Putting things in context helps, and if fans remember its just a game, that will help even more. NBA games are for entertainment purposes. If fans feel that way about Westbrook they should stay home. Then, they can say whatever comes to mind within the comforts of their home.
With that said, maybe that’s what the Jazz organization should enforce — a ban on coming to any more Jazz home games for the fan involved.