OKC Thunder gets the win in Utah, but the night is marred by an altercation between Russell Westbrook and Jazz fans which merits immediate action by the NBA.
Having swept the Utah Jazz, it would seem the OKC Thunder players and fans should be celebrating. But, an ugly incident during the game is marring the victory and pointing to the need for the NBA to do a full investigation and more importantly to address fan interactions with players.
Russell Westbrook is becoming the poster child for these fan altercations as he’s been at the center of at least five such occurrences now which speaks to the fact certain fan bases sure seem to feel like there aren’t any boundaries involved when it comes to the Brodie. That fact alone is problematic for the NBA who don’t ever want another incident like what occurred in Detroit at the Palace in 2004.
To be fair, attending an NBA game is unlike anything in major league sports. The NHL has glass partitions separating fans from players. In soccer, baseball and football fans are in stands. Even with boxing (although in the open) there is a ring isolating the participants.
The NBA is unique in that fans are directly on the court and can quite literally reach out and touch the players. It’s part of the allure of the NBA for fans to be so close to the action.
Furthermore, fans are encouraged to chant and impulsively cheer en masse both for their home team and against the opponent. Some home teams have the practice down to a science and can produce hilarious takes.