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Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal showed us the good and bad of fan interaction in the NBA

Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal showed us the good and bad of fan interaction in the NBA

By Nick Ashooh March 12, 2019 12:23 PM

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Adrian Peterson reflects on his historic afternoon

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So apparently, some NBA fans need a little refresher on how to act at a game. 

Monday night, we saw two very different dynamics with the player/fan relationship in the NBA.

The good, was Bradley Beal taking over another fourth quarter against the Kings and celebrating with Wizards fans.

The bad, was Russell Westbrook again being baited into a confrontation with Jazz fans. 

If you have courtside seats, or are even in ear-shot of the players, let's try and remember what you should do, and not do at an NBA game.

DO: High fives when requested.

Clearly interacting with Beal after a big shot is the way to go. 

DON'T: Be that Jazz fan. 

Saying something that could in any way make you look like a racist moron or just a clueless adult that doesn't understand making things personal is over the line. 

According to Westbrook, the man told him to "get down on your knees like you're used to." Westbrook considered that comment to be "racial" and "inappropriate."

The fan, 45-year-old Shane Keisel, told ESPN that he didn't use profanity at Westbrook or say anything inappropriate.  He was seated in the third row on the baseline near the Thunder bench, and said that video you just saw was shot by a fan in the first row. Keisel said he sent the video to "friends that are in the social media business" because he wanted the exchange to be seen.

Of course he did. He got his platform and got to claim he was a victim. 

Which brings me to another thing to stay away from...

Don't: Touch Russell Westbrook, or any player 

Remember this shocked kid earlier in the season?

Look, it's obvious fans realize they can get a reaction from Westbrook, it's been happening Kevin Durant forever too. 

Far too many fans think because they can tweet someone they see on TV, that they can yell the same thing from the stands, and they'll get away with it. These are the same people that say if they were in the middle of a bank robbery they'd "take that gun right out of the guy's hands and stop the whole thing". They have muscles in their mind, but it's not the reality. 

We all know people like that. 

Talking trash is one thing, saying something that crosses the line, something you would never say to anyone's face if you met them at a bar, is the problem that continues to plague the NBA and fans need to stop being stupid. 

Even the NFL has had issues with this, like when Marcus Peters went into the stands to confront a fan at a Rams game this past season. 

The last thing we want is another Vernon Maxwell incident or Malice at the Palace. 

Yes, Westbrook can be overly bitter, just like plenty of other athletes. Yes, he's made himself a target for taunting from fans because of his consistent overreactions.

He also should not have said anything about the fan's wife.

But that doesn't mean fans don't have room in the trash talking department.

Here's another to add to the list:

DO: Tell a player he can't shoot or took the easy way to a title.

Those are well within the realm of "just ignore it" noise from fans. Sorry Durant, you signed with the Warriors, that comes with the decision.

Sorry Russell, your shot has failed you this season, fans are just giving you the facts. 

Saying something about someone's family, or race, or making it personal, is where we need to draw the line.

Sure, it's impossible to stop this completely. But the league needs to work more aggressively to take charge of these types of situations as they develop before they have a much bigger problem on their hands again.

Players also need to realize when you're on the road, the fans don't like you, and you need to be more selective with what you react to. 

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Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin: Pistons' stars that could hurt the Wizards, or not play at all

Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin: Pistons' stars that could hurt the Wizards, or not play at all

By Quinton Mayo December 15, 2019 5:16 PM

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1:33

Adrian Peterson reflects on his historic afternoon

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DCSL Fresh Take: Action Jackson, AP's records, Joe Burreaux

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Make-A-Wish: Nashayla spends a day with the Wizards

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Washington has dropped seven of their last eight games and their schedule doesn't lighten up by any means in the near future. Detroit has won three of their last four games with their most recent victory coming in Houston as they defeated the Rockets without C Andre Drummond, and F Blake Griffin exiting the game early with a knee injury. 

In desperate need of a win here’s who Wizards' fans and players should keep their eyes on.

Blake Griffin, maybe?

Season stats: 16.4 pts, 4.6 reb, 3.3 ast

Griffin didn't play in Detroit's early November loss to the Wizards due to continued soreness in his knee and hamstring, and it's quite possible he doesn't play in this matchup either for the same reason. Griffin tallied 15 minutes in the first half of the Pistons 115-107 victory over the Houston Rockets Saturday, but only had 2 points on 0-for-7 shooting to show for it. After halftime, Griffin didn't return and was ruled out for the remainder of the game with knee soreness once again. In the month of December, he's averaging 19.7 points on 42.9% shooting and 5.1 rebounds. 

Washington's bigs have struggled mightily with injuries, which has subsequently hampered their paint defense -- One of the reasons why the Memphis Grizzlies scored 70 of their 128 total points down low last game vs the Wizards. Washington will most likely be without Moe Wagner once again who's struggling with an ankle injury and Thomas Bryant who's recovering from a stress reaction in his foot. 

Luke Kennard

Season stats: 16.2 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.1 ast

The Pistons leading scorer the last time these two teams faced off (24 points, 6-12 FG, 3-4 3P FG), Kennard has been a pleasant surprise for Detroit this season. He's averaging career-bests in nearly every category while maintaining his efficiency from deep. Last season Kennard averaged: 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game, he may quietly have a case for most improved player and possibly sixth man of the year. 

Markieff Morris

Season stats: 10.6 points, 4.0  reb, 1.5 ast

If Blake Griffin can't go, Markieff Morris is the next man up. In the first meeting (which I inexplicably deemed the 'Keef revenge game' prior to tip-off) Morris had a lackluster 4 points on 2-for-4 shooting. However, in the last two games, he's averaging 15.5 points on 57.1% shooting from the field as well as 54.5% from 3-point range. He'll be looking for revenge for sure. 

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Which team is closer to contention: the Wizards or Grizzlies?

Which team is closer to contention: the Wizards or Grizzlies?

By Chase Hughes December 15, 2019 9:27 AM

Trending Now

1:33

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While watching the Wizards take on another rebuilding team, as they did on Saturday night in their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, it's only natural to compare the stages of those respective rebuilds and wonder which team is closer. That may be an even more interesting question with a game like Saturday's that matched the Wizards against a team doing things a decidedly different way.

In a sense, the Wizards are where the Grizzlies were last season. Memphis had unexpectedly bottomed out the year before, enough to land Jaren Jackson Jr. in the draft. And, like the Wizards this year, they were holding onto their core veterans, in their case Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol.

But the Grizzlies didn't bounce back into playoff contention like they had hoped and ended up trading both Gasol and Conley, and arguably too late. The Wizards wish to avoid that fate with Bradley Beal and John Wall.

Neither the Wizards (7-17) or Grizzlies (9-17) are a good team right now and both would like to be back in the playoff mix sooner than later, maybe even next year. So, who is closer?

The Grizzlies have the more impressive young core with Jackson and Ja Morant. Both are just 20 years old and they each look like future All-Stars, if not All-NBA talents.

Jackson is averaging 17.6 points and 1.2 blocks while shooting 40 percent from three on six attempts per game. He's a two-way unicorn who can make plays like a guard and has potential to become an elite rim protector.

Morant is the early favorite for rookie of the year, averaging 18.7 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from long range. He has future star written all over him with a game reminiscent of a young Wall or Russell Westbrook.

The Grizzlies appear to have hit on their high draft picks, but have also nailed later ones, the type of moves that separate the best front offices. Brandon Clarke, the 21st pick this past June, looks like a steal. And Dillon Brooks, a second round pick in 2017, is a solid young player.

But the Wizards also have an emerging young core with Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura and Moe Wagner. None of them are as good as Jackson or Morant, but they are good players on the rise. And, most importantly, the Wizards have Beal.

While Jackson and Morant could someday be stars, Beal already is one and he's signed long-term. Potential is a commodity in the NBA, but nothing is guaranteed for young teams and young players. Just look at the Bulls and Hawks this season.

Now, the Grizzlies do have something the Wizards would absolutely love to have and that is real financial flexibility. They have close to $70 million in salary coming off the books this summer and have the second-lowest payroll committed for next season of any team in the NBA, second only to Atlanta.

The Wizards, meanwhile, are strapped with Wall's supermax contract which, depending on how he returns from a torn Achilles, could be an albatross for years to come. Though cap space doesn't mean the Grizzlies will be able to lure free agents, as Memphis has never been mistaken for a prime destination, but it's a preferable spot to be in. Wall's deal may prevent the Wizards from keeping players they would otherwise re-sign, when Memphis should have no such problem.

So, so far we have the Grizzlies with a better young nucleus and a much better salary cap situation. The Wizards, though, have the proven star and may have two if Wall returns to form.

But here's what may give the Wizards the edge, or at least secure a push. The Grizzlies have to give one of their next two first round picks to Boston by way of a 2015 trade. It is top-6 protected this year and unprotected in 2021 if it doesn't convey this June. That could be a major problem for a team trying to build through the draft.

Also, the Wizards are lucky to be in the Eastern Conference. Though the Grizzlies geographically should be in the East, they remain in the West which has been the superior conference basically since Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls.

There is, of course, no definitive answer to the root question of this analysis. The easiest way to settle it would be to say the Grizzlies have a higher ceiling at this point because of Morant and Jackson, but the Wizards probably have the more likely path to the playoffs next season, given they play in the East and have two guys with a track record of getting there.

But as we compare the teams, keep in mind what Memphis wanted to do and what they ended up doing in terms of trading their veteran stars. The Wizards don't want to take their rebuild that far, but sometimes things don't go according to plan. Just ask the Grizzlies.

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