Monday night’s highly-publicized incident between Russell Westbrook and some Utah Jazz fans received widespread attention, but is far from his first run-in with fans there.
Westbrook had some encounters with Jazz fans throughout their playoff series last year, including one that is just now receiving attention.
Jazz digital media reporter Eric Woodyard shared a video on Tuesday night that he says came before Game 4 of last year’s first-round playoff series between the Thunder and Jazz. Westbrook was called “boy” by a fan. He seemed to tell the fan not to do it. Then after a fan repeated it, Westbrook appeared to call security over.
To Russell Westbrook’s defense, here is even further proof of his previous interactions with Utah Jazz fans. In this video, @russwest44 is called a “boy” by a Jazz fan ahead of Game 4 of OKC’s first-round playoff series against Utah on April 23, 2018 at Vivint Arena. pic.twitter.com/lc6slA7fTo
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 13, 2019
Westbrook was very sensible and reasonable in his approach that time. He seems to be willing to engage with fans and also frequently alerts security when he feels something bad is said. Perhaps he felt what was said on Monday was so out of line that he took the nuclear option, which was to threaten the fan.
Westbrook was fined $25,000 by the NBA for his threat and profanity, while the fan was permanently banned by the Jazz.
