Russell Westbrook popcorn incident fans downside

PHILADELPHIA — Russell Westbrook’s outburst wasn’t just about the popcorn. Of course, the Washington Wizards guard was angry that a fan dumped the food over his head as he limped to the locker room with an ankle injury — who wouldn’t be?  

But for Westbrook, the incident dug at something deeper. 

“To be completely honest man, this s—- is getting out of hand,” Westbrook said, “especially for me.” 

Wednesday’s Game 2 controversy wasn’t the first time a fan had crossed the line with Westbrook — or even the second or third.  Heck, it wasn’t even Westbrook’s first situation in Philadelphia, a fan gave him two middle fingers in 2016. But it was Westbrook’s first since people have started to be able to gather en masse since the pandemic started — a jarring reminder that as excited as players were to have fans in the stands again, not everything about that is a positive. 

Westbrook isn’t alone. Ray Young, the father of Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, took issue with fan conduct after cameras appeared to show a Knicks fan spitting at his son in New York. Officials at Madison Square Garden, too, reportedly turned up the music over the public address system to drown out chants of “[expletive] Trae Young!” over the course of Wednesday’s game. 

And even in a sport like golf, PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh issued an apology Tuesday to Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson for unruly behavior on the 18th hole, saying he was sorry the crowd made the golfers “feel vulnerable.”

Westbrook said there needs to be a better system in place to protect athletes.

“To a certain extent, I can’t just keep looking the other way,” Westbrook said after Washington’s 120-95 loss. “There has to be some penalties or something to put in place where fans just can’t come to the game and say as they please because they wouldn’t do that (stuff) anywhere else, in any other setting. 

“I’m sick and tired of it, honestly.”

Westbrook said he understands that some vitriol will always be there, such as the trash talk that comes from the stands. “It’s sports,” Westbrook said. And the former MVP, at times, seems to embrace the taunting: Just before tip, Westbrook runs to the opposing baseline and claps his hands — drawing boos from the away crowd.

Still, no athlete expects to get popcorn thrown at them — much less when dealing with an injury. Teammate Bradley Beal called the act “disgusting” and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James urged on Twitter for the fan to be publicly identified. 

James, like Westbrook, argued there is a double standard for players and fans. The punishment would be much more severe if the player retaliated by charging in the stands than any potential discipline a fan might face, they said.

“By the way WE AS THE PLAYERS wanna see who threw that popcorn on Russ while he was leaving the game tonight with a injury!!” James tweeted. “There’s cameras all over arenas so there’s no excuse! Cause if the [shoe] was on the other [foot]. #ProtectOurPlayers.”

The NBA has acted swiftly when players do cross a line with fans. The league’s most famous incident — “The Malice at the Palace” — resulted in season-long bans for multiple players who brawled with the crowd during a 2004 Pacers-Pistons game in Detroit. More recently, former Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was suspended two games in 2019 for confronting two 76ers fans in the stands. “His response was ‘I’m sorry, I just wanted a Frosty,’” Thomas said at the time. 

The problem the NBA faces is that there’s no clear solution on how the league might be better equipped to prevent such instances in the future — or how they could make the punishment more severe for fans. The NBA said Thursday that it would “vigorously” enforce an “enhanced fan code of conduct” at upcoming games.

“The return of more NBA fans to our arenas has brought great excitement and energy to the start of the playoffs,” the league said in a statement, “but it is critical that we all show respect for players, officials and our fellow fans.”

Westbrook said he didn’t have an answer. 

Teams have occasionally handed out lifetime bans to fans. The Utah Jazz banned two men in 2018 and 2019 who directed racial taunts at Westbrook, then with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

And on Thursday, the 76ers apologized to Westbrook — saying in a statement that the fan had been identified. But the team stopped short of saying whether that person would be banned for life.

“After an investigation into the incident that occurred at last night’s game, we have determined that the person involved will have his season ticket membership revoked, effectively immediately,” the 76ers said. “In addition, he will be banned from all events at Wells Fargo Center indefinitely.

“We apologize to Russell Westbrook and the Washington Wizards for being subjected to this type of unacceptable and disrespectful behavior. There is no place for it in our sport or arena.”