The Utah Jazz has permanently banned a fan who was at the center of a verbal altercation with Russell Westbrook Monday night. The team said Tuesday the ban is effective immediately and includes all arena events. The NBA star is also facing a fine by the league.
"The Utah Jazz will not tolerate fans who act inappropriately. There is no place in our game for personal attacks or disrespect," the team said. "The ban is based on excessive and derogatory verbal abuse directed at a player during the game that violated the NBA Code of Conduct."
The team's president also weighed in.
Statement from the Utah Jazz: pic.twitter.com/L3eYolvrpq
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz)
March 12, 2019 "Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy and play the game in a safe, positive and inclusive environment," Utah Jazz's president Steve Starks said. "We all have a responsibility to respect the game of basketball and, more importantly, each other as human beings."
The incident broke out Monday night during the first half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's win against the Jazz in Salt Lake City. Westbrook threatened the fan, who was later identified as Shane Keisel. Westbrook said he was triggered by comments he considered "racial" and "inappropriate."
Things get heated between Russell Westbrook and Utah Jazz fans again. “I’ll f*ck you up. You and your wife,” he says. Not sure what these fans said to him, but he also had issues with Jazz fans during the postseason. pic.twitter.com/LquwRmLVNy
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard)
March 12, 2019 A visibly angry Westbrook was caught on camera hurling expletives directed at Keisel, telling him that he was going to "f*** up" him and his wife. Westbrook said Keisel told him to, "Get down on your knees like you're used to." He believed it was "racial" and "inappropriate," and he made a point about players' safety.
Keisel claimed he didn't use any insults at Westbrook, but he took issue when Westbrook went after his female companion.
Shane Keisel, the Jazz fan who was involved in a verbal altercation with Russell Westbrook during the Jazz loss to the Thunder, explains his side of what happened. @KSL5TV @kslsports #nba pic.twitter.com/ScCSRttTCg
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat)
March 12, 2019 "He can threaten me all he wants, but don't threaten a woman," he said. "Her first NBA game ever. Welcome to the NBA, Jen."
The fan who went at Russ is hardcore MAGA who would’ve thought pic.twitter.com/IoRTa9ap8f
— gifdsports (@gifdsports)
March 12, 2019 Westbrook addressed that part of his tirade: "As for beating up his wife, I've never put my hand on a woman. I never will. Once he said the comment, his wife repeated the same thing to me. That's kinda how that started."
In one post from Keisel's Twitter account, he calls someone a “nigger boy.”
Keisel Twitter feed