Watch: Westbrook threatens Jazz fans
Warning: Video contains coarse language
Things get heated between Russell Westbrook and Utah Jazz fans again. “I’ll f*ck you up. You and your wife,” he says. Not sure what these fans said to him, but he also had issues with Jazz fans during the postseason. pic.twitter.com/LquwRmLVNy
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 12, 2019
Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook doesn't have a great history with Utah Jazz fans and the animosity continued Monday evening.
In the second quarter of the Thunder's clash with the Jazz, a comment from one or more fans prompted a threat from Westbrook.
"I swear to God, I'll f--- you up. You and your wife, I'll f--- you up," Westbrook shouted.
Fans responded with a "Westbrook sucks!" chant, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. He was also repeatedly booed when he touched the ball.
Westbrook explained his side of the story postgame.
"The realization of it is, how it started was, a young man and his wife in the stands told me 'to get down on my knees like you used to,'" he said in a statement obtained by Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. "To me, that’s just completely disrespectful, to me, I think it’s racial, and I think it’s inappropriate."
The Jazz fan at the center of the verbal exchange denied swearing at Westbrook and claims he told the eight-time All-Star to "sit down and ice" his knees before Westbrook escalated the issue.
Five fans were issued "warning cards" for comments, gestures, and/or behaviors directed at players that were in violation of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct, according to Eric Woodyard of Deseret News. Woodyard adds that the fans were able to return to their seats following the altercation.
Westbrook finished with 23 points, 11 boards, and eight assists as the Thunder defeated the Jazz 98-89.
The point guard had his share of run-ins with fans in Salt Lake City. During Game 6 of last season's first-round series against the Jazz, Westbrook shouted at a fan on his way to the locker room at halftime.
Russell Westbrook snapped at a fan going into halftime. pic.twitter.com/4fOtcNcAlQ
— Mike Singer (@msinger) April 28, 2018
At the conclusion of the playoff game, Westbrook took a swipe at a fan.
Thunder’s Russell Westbrook takes exception to Utah fan after Game 6 loss to Jazz pic.twitter.com/Ef1cgEhVm4
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 28, 2018
"I don't confront fans, fans confront me," Westbrook told reporters after the Thunder's season-ending loss, including Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports. "Here in Utah, man, a lot of disrespectful, vulgar things are said to the players here with these fans. It's truly disrespectful. (They) talk about your families, your kids. It's just a disrespect to the game and I think it's something that needs to be brought up.
"I'm tired of just going out and playing and letting fans say what the hell they want to say. I'm not with that. If I was on the street, they wouldn't just come up to me and say anything crazy, because I don't play that (expletive)."