The topic of verbal harassment of NBA players has been a hot discussion after Russell Westbrook's incident with a Utah Jazz supporter who allegedly made racially charged remarks during Monday's game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz. Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors noted these types of incidents will keep happening so long as the league keeps punishing players for defending themselves against verbal attacks.
Asked of how often this abuse happens to players, Green was forthcoming:
“A lot,” he said. “It's crazy. I guess it's just the nature of what we do, I guess. I don't really understand how a grown man can get off by coming into someone else's job and saying bulls**t. I guess that's their way of letting out their frustration in their life, but it's kind of stupid to me.”
Draymond Green on heckling fans amid the Russell Westbrook/Utah fan fiasco:
“I don’t get how grown men get off going to someone else’s job and saying bullshit. I guess that’s their way of letting out their frustration in their life.” pic.twitter.com/rnHoiekvwY
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 15, 2019
Green was then asked if this verbal abuse is happening more often nowadays, and the Warriors catalyst didn't hesitate to admit it:
“Yeah,” Green nodded. “Because our penalties get worse. If I'm someone who is probably not as happy with my life and I got the opportunity where I'm going to someone else's place of employment and I know if I say something crazy and the moment they say something back they lose money — misery loves company.
“I think the longer our penalties are raised and blasted to the world, people will keep doing that, because at the end of the day, what do they really lose? Our families lose money that we provide. I think as long as that happens they'll continue to do it. But it is what it is, I guess.”
Westbrook was fined $25,000 for responding to that fan, who later was banned for life for behaving the way he did. Kevin Durant was also previously fined the same amount for a similar incident with a Dallas Mavericks fan.
Player fines are immediately publicized as quickly as they're assessed by the league office, making it a point of emphasis, one that fans have abused throughout recent years by taunting and insulting NBA players within earshot.
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