Westbrook: Broadcaster's racially insensitive remark not OK
Russell Westbrook condemned Oklahoma City Thunder play-by-play announcer Brian Davis for making a racially insensitive remark about him.
In the second quarter of Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Memphis Grizzlies, Davis appeared to try to praise the reigning MVP for an assist but said, "Westbrook is out of his cotton-picking mind." The team suspended the broadcaster for Sunday's Game 1 against the Utah Jazz, and Westbrook was asked about the remarks.
"Brian has been here for a while. What he said wasn't OK. We all understand that," the reigning MVP said, as quoted by the Norman Transcript's Fred Katz.
"But he definitely came in and talked to us. The team has made the decision to do what they need to do. We just have to move on from it."
Many had spoken out against the phrase on Twitter and the Thunder joined the chorus. They admonished Davis, who's a full-time employee, and said he meant no harm by it.
"We think obviously the use of that term was offensive and inappropriate, and I expressed that to Brian last night," Thunder VP of Broadcasting Dan Mahoney told Katz.
"Brian assures me that it was not meant in any derogatory way, and he apologizes. But again, we feel strongly that it's inappropriate and offensive."
Westbrook notched 29 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in Sunday's 116-108. OKC will look to go up 2-0 when it hosts Game 2 on Wednesday.