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Russell Westbrook finds himself at odds after pushing a fan after a post-game incident where a belligerent Denver Nuggets spectator got in his face. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard addressed the situation after the game, noting the interaction shouldn't have taken place in the first place.
Westbrook was asked if his interaction was unavoidable, given that the fan stepped in his path, as he intended to make his way to the locker room.
“Of course, man. You gotta be able to protect the players that play the game,” said Westbrook. “Obviously the fans enjoyed the game, but they can't come on the floor. It's totally unacceptable.”
Westbrook on the fan coming on the floor after the final buzzer: “They can’t come on the floor. It’s totally unacceptable.” pic.twitter.com/6s7DjD177o
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) February 2, 2018
The game, which was televised by TNT, had revenge implications written all over it, as it was Westbrook's 50-point triple-double, sealed with a long 3-pointer that knocked the Nuggets out of playoff contention last season.
This time around, it was the Nuggets who got the last laugh, as Gary Harris sealed the game on a buzzer-beating wing 3-pointer, netting a 127-124 win in front of the home fans at the Pepsi Center.
Following the interaction, the likes of Reggie Miller, who was calling the game as a color commentator, noted the fan was in the wrong for getting on Westbrook's path.
“Absolutely the fan is in the wrong there,” said Miller. “He should not be on the floor. He should be happy he didn’t get knocked out.”
The NBA has heavily favored fan safety over player safety in recent years, and it hasn't been more evident than in the last couple of seasons. Given that it was Westbrook who made contact first, he could potentially face a fine or suspension from the league office in the near future.
