All of a sudden, it seems like NBA fans forgot how to behave. First, a Knicks fan spat on Trae Young, then, a Sixers supporter threw popcorn at Russell Westbrook. Also, Ja Morant’s family got some racist remarks in Utah and now, a Celtics fan threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving’s head.
These incidentscould go out of hand and escalate pretty quickly. Let’s not forget what happened in 2004 during the infamous ‘Malice in the Palace’ brawl between the Pistons, Pacers, and some of the fans in attendance.
That’s why the league has established a zero-tolerance policy regarding this incident, and the fan wasn’t only restrained and banned from the TD Garden for life but also arrested, according to the Boston Celtics.
Kevin Durant Blasts Fans For Their Behavior
Kevin Durant had some bold remarks on these kinds of things. It’s not only that they threw a bottle at his friend and teammate but also the fact that fans don’t seem to be enjoying the game anymore:
“Fans got to grow up at some point. I know that being in the house for a year and a half with the pandemic got a lot of people on edge, got a lot of people stressed out, but when you come to these games, you have to realize these men are human. We are not animals, we are not in the circus. You coming to the game is not all about you as a fan,” Durant said, as quoted byMalika Andrews of ESPN.
“Have some respect for the human beings and have some respect for yourself. Your mother wouldn’t be proud of you throwing water bottles at basketball players or spitting on players or tossing popcorn. So grow the f**k up and enjoy the game, it’s bigger than you,“ he added.
Kyrie Irving is an instigator. He loves to stir the pot and play the victim. 15 seconds prior to the incident, he walk all the way to the Celtics logo to stomp it several times, and Boston fans had plenty of valid reasons not to like him long before that.
Then again, it’s just basketball. Boo him, get in his head, call him out for the things he did – or didn’t – when he played for your team. But throwing a bottle at him? That’s crossing the line, and I’m pretty sure that no fan would have the guts to dothat to an NBA player outside of the arena.So, if you don’t know how to behave or back up your actions, stay away from the game we love.