NBA star Russell Westbrook stands by his threat to “f*** up” a fan and his wife by insisting he was subjected to a “racial” comment.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s star guard was caught on camera exchanging words with a fan in the victory over the Utah Jazz.
“I’ll f*** him up if he says that s*** again. I promise you,” the former league MVP was overheard telling a security guard near the Thunder bench.
Westbrook claims the expletive-laden tirade, which went viral on social media, was sparked after being told to “get down on your knees like you’re used to.”
“To me that’s just completely disrespectful,” Westbrook told reporters. “I think there are a lot of great fans around the world that like to come to the game and enjoy the game.
“Then there are people that come to the game to say mean, disrespectful things about me, my family.
“And if I had to do it again, I would say the same exact thing, because I truly will stand up for myself, for my family, for my kids, for my wife, for my mom, for my dad every single time. I expect anybody else to do the same.
“I just think there’s got to be something done. There’s got to be some consequences for those type of people that come to the game just to say and do whatever they want to say. I don’t think it’s fair to the players - not just to me, but I don’t think it’s fair to the players.”
The 45-year-old fan, Shane Keisel, insists he did not say anything inappropriate, and that his wife, who was attending her first game, was not part of the exchange at all.
“He just went nuts,” Keisel told ESPN. “She never got up. She never stood up. She never said a word to him. I mean, it’s all fine, we’re having fun and games with the guy and we’re talking, but at the end of the day, no man should threaten a woman, period.
“I’m not afraid of the guy. Come on up. But when you threaten a woman that’s 5-feet tall and 110 pounds, you’re a big man. So this guy needs to be exposed.”
