‘Watch your mouth, motherfucker!’: Russell Westbrook gets into a furious clash with a Phoenix Suns fan midway through the opening game of the playoffs…before claiming victory in Game 1 with his LA Clippers side on the away
Russell Westbrook angrily confronted a fan at halftime before his LA Clippers squad claimed victory in Game 1 against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Arena.
The nine-time All-Star was seen facing a man in a Suns polo shirt and hat as he returned to the field after the break.
It is unknown what the man said to the player to start the argument, but when Westbrook leaned in to talk to him, he got up to meet the player on his level.
A guard stood his ground between the pair, but he couldn’t stop the words flying between the two men, with Westbrook audibly telling the onlooker to “watch your mouth.”
He replies that Westbrook should take his comments “as a man” before Westbrook snapped back, “watch your mouth, motherf*****!”
Rusell Westbrook was involved in an angry confrontation with a Suns fan during Game 1 of the Clippers’ playoffs campaign
The nine-time All-Star was visibly annoyed before walking back onto the track through the tunnel
In front of the pair, a child turned to see Westbrook being held away from his opponent, and as the player backed away, voices watching the drama unfold said “talk about it, be about,” and “that’s the man “Westbrook is the man.”
In a post-game statement from the Phoenix Suns, the team said, “We are aware of the incident that happened tonight and are conducting an assessment.”
The altercation is said to have taken place in a lounge close to the track that doubles as a shortcut from the track to the visiting dressing room.
The point guard, who moved to Los Angeles in February 2023, had a mixed start to the opening game of the Clippers’ playoffs campaign.
Despite a strong defensive display, Westbrook made just 3 of 19 shots from the field to finish with nine points.
But the player came into the clutch to sweep away the home side’s win as the clock ran, converting two vital free throws in the last minute.
His belated frustration with Suns shooting guard Devin Booker sealed the win for the visitors as Westbrook deflected a savage block from Booker’s final charge to the basket.
The point guard came forward to block Booker’s final attempt to hold the tie
Westbrook struggled shooting from the field but delivered defensive heroics to put the Clippers ahead after Game 1
The game featured Westbrook against his former Oklahoma Thunder teammate Kevin Durant after the Nets traded the player to the Suns in February.
After the game, Westbrook said he would do anything to win his first NBA championship.
“My whole career, I’ve prided myself on giving it my all every season,” said Westbrook.
“Whatever it takes from me to win the game, I’ll do it.”
The Clippers and the Suns will play Game 2 in Phoenix on Tuesday, before the series shifts to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4.