Fan issues with Westbrook
If there’s one thing that Utah Jazz fans like to be known for, it’s their passion, energy and ability to impact the game by cheering the Jazz to victory on their home court. On many occasions, Jazz fans have been considered among the best in the NBA giving Utah one of the greatest home court advantages.
Unfortunately, though, due to the poor behavior of a small number of so-called supporters, Jazz fans have become known to some of the general public as racist. Quite frankly, I don’t find that anywhere close to a fair assumption as a few bad apples don’t define an entire fanbase. However, the poor actions of a couple were certainly a bad look for Jazz fans.
In the last home contest between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook was filmed getting into it with a Jazz fan and his wife. Ultimately, after investigating the incident further, the Jazz organization determined that the fan had uttered inappropriate and racist remarks towards Westbrook, and he received a lifelong ban from Vivint Smart Home Arena. Later, when footage arose of a similar incident with a fan during the 2018 NBA Playoffs, he also received such a ban.
The Jazz handled the incidents in the best way they knew how – by removing the problem. Nevertheless, the fact that these embarrassing acts happened can’t be removed. As much as we might love for these occurrences to have been nothing more than bad April Fools jokes, they were in fact all too real. And they were a black eye and disturbing blemish on the national perception and reputation of the Jazz and their fans.