The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Utah Jazz 98-89 on the road at Vivint Smart Home Arena completing the sweep against the Jazz this season. The game was secondary, as former MVP Russell Westbrook got into a verbal altercation with a fan and his wife in the stands. Westbrook can be heard and seen in a Twitter video by Deseret News’ Eric Woodyard clearly upset, and yelling explicit language at a fan and his wife.
“I’ll f*ck you up. You and your wife,” he said.
Things get heated between Russell Westbrook and Utah Jazz fans again. “I’ll f*ck you up. You and your wife,” he says. Not sure what these fans said to him, but he also had issues with Jazz fans during the postseason. pic.twitter.com/LquwRmLVNy
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 12, 2019
Russell Westbrook’s teammate Patrick Patterson shared what the fan and his wife yelled at Westbrook.
“Get down on your knees like your use to”
Fans can say shit about a mans family, wife, & kids.. Tell a player “Get down on your knees like your use to.” As men, what do you expect us to do? Shut up & dribble? No one is held accountable for their actions except for us. Fans are protected in every way possible but not us.
— Patrick Patterson (@pdpatt) March 12, 2019
After Spurs morning shooting DeMar DeRozan spoke the media and was asked his thoughts on the altercation between Westbrook and the fan in Utah.
.@DeMar_DeRozan shares his take on last night’s altercation involving @russwest44 and the fan in Utah #Thunderup #Spursnation #RussellWestbrook #Jazznation pic.twitter.com/QGxu8acF7x
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) March 12, 2019
“I really can’t speak on it too much, because I don’t know exactly what happened,” DeRozan told me.“Knowing Russ personally, there’s a good reason he went off the way he did. He just wouldn’t do it for nothing. But I don’t know exactly what was said.”
DeRozan is not the only person in the league that shared their reaction to Monday’s incident. Jazz star Donovan Mitchell also reacted to what was said by the fan in Westbrook’s direction.
“I am personally hurt by the incident at the game on March 11th,” Mitchell said. “As a black man living in a community I love, and playing on a team that gives me the opportunity to live out my dreams, this incident hits close to home.
“Racism and hate speech hurts us all, and this is not the first time something like this has happened in our arena,” he continued. “The Utah that I have come to love is welcoming and inclusive and last night’s incident is not indicative of our fan base. We don’t want to create a negative reputation for athletes who potentially may want to come to Utah.”
Hall of Famer Kevin McHale also shared his thoughts the altercation before the San Antonio Spurs took on the Dallas Mavericks.
“I haven’t read that much I was traveling here last night. So, I know he got into a beef with the fans. I think they suspended the fan from Utah. You hate to see that happen and fans something gets out of control. Evidently, the Jazz that he violated enough protocol that they throw him out, which is good. You pay your money and you can yell and scream, but at a certain point that gets crossed. It’s no good,” McHale told me.
The fan been permanently banned from Jazz games according to a press release they issued Tuesday morning.
Shane Keisel is permanently banned from Jazz games. pic.twitter.com/JoVrgqR1WI
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 12, 2019
This is not the first time Westbrook has had issues with fans in Utah. Last year during the playoffs, Russell was called a “boy” before Game 4 of the first-round playoff series against the Jazz.
To Russell Westbrook’s defense, here is even further proof of his previous interactions with Utah Jazz fans. In this video, @russwest44 is called a “boy” by a Jazz fan ahead of Game 4 of OKC’s first-round playoff series against Utah on April 23, 2018 at Vivint Arena. pic.twitter.com/lc6slA7fTo
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) March 13, 2019
About the Author
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
In addition to his journalism, Buford is an entrepreneur and content creator, dedicated to amplifying diverse narratives and driving meaningful conversations across media platforms. His passion for storytelling, culture, and innovation continues to make him a respected voice in the evolving landscape of sports and entertainment media.
