The Utah Jazz fan who reportedly shouted offensive comments at the Thunder's Russell Westbrook is now banned for life
The Utah Jazz banned a fan for life from attending games at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. The decision results from an encounter between Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook and fan Shane Keisel. Westbrook said that Keisel directed "racial" and "completely disrespectful" comments at him during a game between Utah and Oklahoma City in Salt Lake City on Monday night, which prompted Westbrook to respond angrily.
The Jazz announced the ban in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident gained notoriety after videos of Westbrook turning to the man on the sideline and saying, "I'll f--- you up. You and your wife," went viral on Twitter. Westbrook said he was responding to the fan telling him to "Get on your knees like you're used to." The former MVP said he would say the exact same thing if he had to do it over again.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I truly will stand up for myself and my family, for my kids, for my wife, for my mom, for my dad," he said. "I expect everyone else to do the same."
For his part in the incident, the NBA fined Westbrook $25,000. Several players from the Jazz spoke out in support of Westbrook, including franchise's stars like guard Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert.
Keisel denied saying anything inappropriate, per ESPN, instead he said he told Westbrook to "ice those knees up."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Should we talk to the voices in our heads?
Podcast Plus Macron charms Morocco, and do Americans really work harder than the rest of us?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A spooky donation, a shirt-shredding rally, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour – an 'expansive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The 'sweeping' show features over 140 works from paintings to ceramics
By The Week UK Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published