Russell Westbrook got into a lengthy verbal altercation with a fan during his Los Angeles Clippers’ 104-113 loss to the Denver Nuggets.
Referee Lauren Holtkamp came over and stood between Westbrook and the crowd in the final 30 seconds of the fight. Two security guards also came courtside as former Clippers player DeAndre Jordan appeared to urge an agitated Westbrook to step away from the situation.
A man in the audience in the courtside seats at the Crypto Arena pointed his fingers to his head as he yelled in Westbrook’s direction. “I’m not going to talk about it because it’s not relevant,” Russell Westbrook said when asked what the fan called him.
Russell Westbrook standing up for himself against a shameless Lakers fan in the crowd pic.twitter.com/GbrH48Zc0S
— Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) November 28, 2023
“It’s unfortunate that nowadays fans can say whatever they want. I just defended myself. Personally, I will not allow such a thing and I will not support it,” he added.
Last season, Westbrook and a Phoenix Suns supporter got into a heated argument at halftime during the Clippers’ road trip in the playoffs. The basketball player had another angry exchange with a courtside fan during a game in Milwaukee in December 2022.
“Respect is a big thing that I value very much, so when that line is crossed, I don’t allow it anymore. I’ve defended this position for years and now my son is old enough to know what’s going on and ask me what it means or that,” Russell Westbrook explained.