Jazz fans were letting Russell Westbrook hear it all night Friday in Game 6. Westbrook’s heard it all before and largely tuned it out as he dropped 46 on the Jazz. But it wasn’t enough, Oklahoma City lost and was eliminated.
Westbrook had every right to be frustrated after the loss. He’s also a guy who doesn’t like to be crowded (by fans, by media during scrums, by anyone).
Which is what led to two incidents as he left the court during Game 6.
The first was at halftime, when a fan leaned out to yell something at Westbrook, and Russ took exception.
The best part of that is just how fast that guy backed off and was in his seat. Score another one for Westbrook.
Then after the game....
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
Jazz fans have a reputation around the league for... well, yelling the kinds of things their upstanding Mormon parents would not approve of. It’s a rough crowd, and after the game Westbrook called them out on it.
Russell Westbrook BLASTS OFF on Jazz fans after Game 6 loss: "I don't confront fans. Fans confront me. Here in Utah, a lot of disrespectful, vulgar things are said. ... It's something that needs to be brought up... I don't play that s---. ... It needs to be put to a stop." pic.twitter.com/FrD0cdzogI
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 28, 2018
We’ll see if the league comes down on Westbrook for this. The suits in New York are not fans of players turning on fans, with good reason. But there are lines that cannot be crossed by fans, and there is context, and that has to be taken into consideration. This looks like a “no foul, play on” kind of moment to me.