Russell Westbrook has words with fan late in Clippers’ loss،
LOS ANGELES — Russell Westbrook said he won’t tolerate fans saying anything personal about him or his family after engaging in a heated exchange with a fan late in the Washington’s 113-104 loss. LA Clippers against the short-handed Denver Nuggets on Monday. night.
With 30 seconds left and the Nuggets leading 113-102, the Clippers inbounded the ball as Westbrook stood in the middle of the court and responded to a fan who was sitting behind the court seats.
“I mean, it’s unfortunate,” Westbrook said after the Clippers suffered a frustrating loss to a Nuggets team that was playing without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. “The fans think they can say whatever they want. I’m not going to say it. [what was said] now because it’s not appropriate, but I’m just protecting myself.
“It’s just a shame that the fans think they can say anything and, personally, I won’t allow it. I [taken] A lot of people say nonsense and get away with it, but I won’t put up with it.”
Referee Lauren Holtkamp stood in front of Westbrook to make sure nothing happened as the play took place on the court. But after the buzzer sounded at the end of the game, Westbrook returned to midcourt, where fans appeared to be gesturing toward the Clippers point guard.
Holtkamp, Nuggets guard Justin Holiday, Clippers security and arena security, as well as Westbrook’s Clippers teammate Daniel Theis, all showed up to make sure tensions didn’t escalate .
Last season, during the first round of the playoffs between the Clippers and Suns in Phoenix, Westbrook got into a verbal confrontation with a Suns fan as players used a shortcut through a club area from the locker room to get to field.
When Westbrook was with the Washington Wizards in May 2021, a fan at a playoff game in Philadelphia threw popcorn at him as he left the court following a right ankle injury. Westbrook had to be restrained by Wizards staff and arena security guards.
And in 2019, a Utah fan was banned for life from what was then called Vivint Smart Home Arena following a verbal altercation with Westbrook while with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I understand that the fans enjoy the game and feel ready to do anything,” Westbrook said. “I guess they feel like they can say anything, but that’s our job…any negative comments about family and things of that nature, I would kind of stay at the ‘gap. But anything else, they can kind of say what. They want.”
Westbrook reiterated that he will not stand idly by and listen to fans verbally attack him or his family.
“Now having kids and understanding how important it is, not just to me but my last name,” Westbrook said. “Understanding what Westbrook means, understanding how important it is to my father, my grandfather, my family. It’s very important. It’s something I hold on to, and respect is an important thing that I appreciate.
“So as soon as this line is crossed, I will not allow [it] no more. I’ve been advocating for him for years, and now my son is old enough to know what’s going on and ask me, “Hey Dad, what does that mean?” What is this?’ Now I have to stick to it, and no matter where I am or what happens, I always stick to it.”
