5 times NBA players had heated moments with fans in the playoffs
On May 7, Nikola Jokic set the NBA world ablaze as he had a heated encounter with Phoenix Suns owner Mike Ishba on the sidelines. He elbowed him back into his seat while trying to get the ball back.
Jokic's reaction will certainly draw some attention from the NBA's league office, and a potential suspension could be in the pipeline. But this is far from the first time that tempers have boiled over between players and fans, especially in the emotionally charged postseason where every possession matters.
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With that being said, here are five times things have become heated between NBA players and fans in the stands during the postseason.
#1. Russell Westbrook vs. Phoenix Suns
On April 16, the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns faced off in the opening game of their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Unfortunately, the contest itself wasn't the main talking point.
Shortly after the final buzzer, footage emerged showing Russell Westbrook involved in an altercation with a Suns fan during the half-time break.
In the footage, Westbrook can be seen arguing with the fan as he makes his way back to the court, saying "watch your mouth." The fan's son watches on as the NBA star allowed his frustration to boil over.
For Russell Westbrook, altercations with fans are nothing new. As recently as the 2021-22 season, the former MVP had multiple clashes with the Los Angeles Lakers fanbase. This came when he took issue with the nickname "Westbrick," following his struggles when shooting the ball from the field for the purple and gold.
#2. Draymond Green vs. Boston Celtics
There was no face-to-face confrontation between Draymond Green and an individual Boston Celtics fan. However, the 2022 NBA Finals will be remembered for how Boston's fanbase treated the four-time NBA champion.
During the first home game of the series, Celtics fans could be heard chanting "f--- Draymond" from all around the arena. This sparked a flurry of backlash from Klay Thompson, Steve Kerr, and Draymond Green's wife, Hazel Renee.
Renee wrote on her Instagram story:
“Wow. F**k you Celtics fans. All I have to say is f**k you. The response I’ve seen from what I said is all negative. My Husband, Draymond Green is a human being, the audacity of your fan base, @Celtics, is just disgusting.
"My son was scrolling through his NBA Twitter burner account and came across some really rude comments toward his father. This can not be tolerated anymore.”
Draymond Green esponded to the Celtics fanbase during a June 8 episode of "The Draymond Green Show" with a simple three-word reply of "f--- you too."
Of course, Green ultimately had the last laugh, as he helped the Warriors win a championship, beating Boston in six games.