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Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors, chimed in the recent debate regarding Russell Westbrook's incident with a Utah Jazz fan, who allegedly spewed racial obscenities at the Oklahoma City Thunder guard throughout the game, along with his wife.
Westbrook said that Shane Keisel, the fan in question, told him “to get down on my knees like you used to” — a phrase his wife later repeated when her husband was trading barbs with the 2017 NBA MVP.
Kerr made it clear there is no place for racial abuse or insults of any kind toward players, coaches or anyone involved in the game, later praising Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell for the statement made before a lifetime ban of the fan was announced.
“That guy should not ever go to an NBA game,” Kerr said, according to Mark Medina of the San Jose Mercury News.
Kiesel, who denied the use of any profanity toward Westbrook to several media outlets, was later tracked over social media, as the internet piranhas soon found a history of racial tweets about Westbrook.
Article Continues Below“That’s helpful to condemn that kind of behavior,” Kerr said of social media. “Then, of course, don’t read the comments below that.”
Kerr concluded that not all fans behave this way, and that Kiesel's actions should ruin the experience for the rest of passionate fans.
“The vast majority of fans that go to games are very respectful,” Kerr said. “Almost every single one goes there and is passionate and is cheering loud and cheering for their team. Nothing ever happens. We’re not going to spend a whole lot of time just because one idiot decided to do something stupid.”
The NBA has now faced plenty of incidents of similar nature in recent years. Not long ago, a Dallas Mavericks longtime season-ticket holder was seen heckling Kevin Durant, before the latter told him to “shut up and watch the game.”
Much like Durant, Westbrook was also fine $25,000 for directing foul language at a fan, concurring with the league protocol.
