Russell Westbrook was understandably hot after the Jazz eliminated the Thunder in a gritty Game 6 win in Utah on Friday night. He’d put in a Herculean performance in the loss, finishing with 46 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on 43 field goal attempts to try and will his team to victory to force a Game 7 back in OKC.
So he wasn’t in the mood for any shenanigans, especially from an overzealous fan who already gotten into something of an altercation with him as he was on his way into the tunnel at halftime.
They had another run-in after the final buzzer when Russ took a swipe at the camera phone he had pointed at him as he made his way to the locker-room.
OKC has to get Russ out of Utah 😳 https://t.co/p91mwcESLG
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) April 28, 2018
It’s difficult to tell whether the fan said something to Westbrook as he walked by to set him off, but one thing for certain is that the league offices will review the incident carefully and that a fine will likely be forthcoming as the NBA has a strict zero-tolerance policy against interactions with fans in the stands.
Westbrook addressed the incident in his post-game presser conference, accusing fans in Utah of crossing the line when it comes to how they treat opposing fans.
“If I was on the street, they wouldn’t just come up to me and say anything crazy. ’Cause I don’t play that s**t”
Russell Westbrook says fans in Utah have been "disrespectful" to the Thunder pic.twitter.com/cTMPHq0vJZ
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 28, 2018
Something similar happened earlier this season – involving the Jazz, ironically enough – when Rodney Hood knocked a fan’s phone out of his hand after getting ejected in a game against the Wizards in Washington. Hood earned a $35,000 fine for his action.
It certainly doesn’t excuse Russ’ behavior, but he is just about the last guy on Earth you would want to test in that situation after his toughest loss of the season.
