Following the heated exchange at Crypto.com Arena, the LA guard says he won’t allow fans to shout ‘whatever they want.’
LOS ANGELES (AP)_Late in the Los Angeles Clippers’ loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, Russell Westbrook engaged in a prolonged verbal exchange with a fan.
Referee Lauren Holtkamp approached and positioned herself between Westbrook and the seats in the last 30 seconds of the game. Two security personnel entered the court, and former Clipper DeAndre Jordan seemed to urge a worked-up Westbrook to distance himself from the situation.
The male fan, located in the row behind the courtside seats at Crypto.com Arena, pointed his fingers at his head while yelling in Westbrook’s direction.
When asked about what the fan shouted at him, Westbrook responded, “I’m not going to speak on it because it’s not appropriate.”
“It’s unfortunate that fans can say whatever they want nowadays,” he expressed. “I’m just protecting myself. Personally, I won’t allow it. I won’t stand for it.”
During last season’s playoff series between the Clippers and the Phoenix Suns, Westbrook engaged in a heated exchange with a Suns fan in a club area at Footprint Center during halftime. In December 2022, while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook had another angry exchange with a fan seated courtside during a game in Milwaukee.
“Respect is a big thing that I value, so the moment that line gets crossed, I won’t allow it anymore,” Westbrook stated on Monday. “I stood for it for years, and now my son is old enough to know what’s going on and asks me, ‘Hey Dad, what does that mean or what’s that?'”
