The Philadelphia 76ers have responded after a fan emptied a bucket of popcorn on Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook as he made his way toward the locker room for further evaluation of an injury on Wednesday night.
The season-ticket holder behind the classless act has been banned from Wells Fargo Center, home of both the 76ers and the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, the Sixers said in a statement.
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The unidentified fan's tickets were revoked after an investigation, the team said. The statement, posted on the Sixers' social media channels, also included an apology to Westbrook and the Wizards, saying the fan's behavior was "disrespectful" and "unacceptable."
Westbrook, 32, was hobbling off the floor after suffering what looked like a potentially serious injury toward the end of Game 2 of the Wizards-Sixers playoff series, when the popcorn rained down from above on Westbrook's head, apparently dumped by a fan sat near the entrance to the locker room.
The 2017 MVP and nine-time All-Star immediately flew into a rage, and had to be restrained by arena security from confronting the spectator in the stands. The scene conjured memories of the infamous 2004 "Malice at the Palace," when players from the Indiana Pacers brawled with Detroit Pistons fans after beers were thrown at them.
After the game, Westbrook was joined by countless NBA players calling for the league to tighten up security for the safety of players and fans alike. The ugly incident is the latest in a series involving unruly fans. Several incidents of streaking or otherwise rushing the field, as well as raucous fan brawls, have already been reported early in the MLB season.
After the convincing win on Wednesday, the Sixers lead the best-of-seven first-round series, 2-0.
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