Following the opening round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, we've witnessed a great amount of disorderly conduct by NBA fans. Within one week, the NBA reported four incidents involving fans publicly shaming the players. From racial slurs and name-calling to throwing food and beverages, at what point does the NBA step in to enforce rules that hold the fans responsible for their insidious behaviour? NBA players have exercised a great amount of professionalism, but when it comes to fan misconduct there shouldn’t be a double standard. NBA players including Russell Westbrook, Trae Young, Kyrie Irving and Ja Morant have all been victims of fan disorderly conduct.
“In a civilized society, we actually know better already. And the fact that you're doing it is only because you think you can.” - Stephen A. Smith
Photo courtesy of (Fox News)
Fanning The Flames
During Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards, Russell Westbrook went down with an apparent ankle injury in the 4th quarter. As Westbrook made his way towards the locker room a fan threw popcorn on him as he exited through the tunnel adding "insult to injury". Westbrook was hysterical as he had to be restrained by security guards to prevent any further altercation with the alleged fan. Westbrook like several other NBA players has been victimized by the media for their reactions toward jarring fans.
“ To be completely honest, the [expletive] is getting out of hand, especially for me. The amount of disrespect and the amount of fans just doing whatever they [expletive] want to do.” - Russell Westbrook
Following the popcorn incident, Westbrook made a public response at the post-game conference highlighting the importance of player protection in NBA arenas. Shortly thereafter, the Sixers released a statement apologizing to Westbrook and the Wizards organization, The identified fan was a season ticket holder who will have his membership revoked and will be banned from all events at Wells Fargo Arena.
Bedlam At The Garden
After a tough battle in a Game, 1 duel between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks things got fiery in Madison Square Garden. Trae Young was cast as public enemy #1 after his late-game heroics. Following the Hawks Game 1 victory, 15,000 Knicks fans all heckled Young as he tried to secure a victory in Game 2. However, an electric night in the Garden was overshadowed by disrespectful actions of a Knicks fan. In the 4th Quarter, Young inbounded the ball on the sideline when a fan spits on him from the 3rd row.
Photo courtesy of (CBS SPORTS)
Shortly after Game 2, MSG reviewed the footage and confirmed that a patron deliberately spits on Young. The identified fan has been banned indefinitely from Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, the NBA needs to start enforcing rules that hold fans responsible for misconduct in arenas, there needs to be a zero-tolerance policy for any forms of abuses towards players. Several sports broadcasters have questioned how the NBA should deal with bad fan behavior and what substantiate the need for fans imprisonment.
“A ticket to the arena is not an exit to civilization. By the way, the law of civility is there to protect the people who need them.” - Max Kellerman
Boston Celtics Fan Throws Water Bottle At Kyrie Irving
Following a 141-126 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 4, a Celtic fan allegedly threw a water bottle at Brooklyn Nets Kyrie Irving as he exited the court at TD Garden. Fans pointed out the alleged suspect who was then identified and escorted out by the Boston Police. The Fan was arrested and taken into custody where he was charged with assault and battery. According to the Boston Police, the identified suspect is 21-year-old Cole Buckley.
“It has been that way in history in terms of entertainment, performers and sports for a long period of time and just underlying racism and just treating people like they're in a human zoo.” - Kyrie Irving
TD Garden has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violations of guest code, the media commended TD Garden’s personnel on how they resolved the situation in comparison to the other incidents. Kyrie Irving spoke with the media and insisted that the incident may be linked to systemic racial tension, Irving has verbalized a message that resonates with his fellow African-American athletes who’ve been attacked by fan misconduct.
(AP Photo/Elise Amendola )AP
Several sports fans have questioned if this underlying issue is a race-based one or a sense of entitlement. The NBA needs to stand in support of the players and enforce new policies that hold fans responsible for their actions like we saw in Boston. From an entertainment standpoint, the NBA playoffs have nothing short of spectacular, however, the safety of players should be the top priority and not compromised.