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Russell Westbrook tried to pull the old “say it to my face move” and it backfired.
In a video posted to TikTok on Monday, Westbrook — while warming up for the Los Angeles Clippers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, January 14 — can be seen telling a fan to essentially “say it to my face.”
The Timberwolves fan, wearing a Karl Anthony Townes jersey, then did exactly that, putting Westbrook in the no-win position of having to choose between walking away or escalating the situation.
@nagashiajackson Russell Westbrook address a fan that he felt was being disrespectful towards him #russellwestbrook #losangelesclippers #losangelesclippersbasketball #losangelesclippers💙❤ #minnesotatimberwolves #minnesotatimerwolves #minnesota #losangles #nba #nbabasketball #foryoupage #foryoupage #basketball
“You better sit yo a– down. I’m not the one. I’m not the one,” Westbrook said as he walked back onto the court.
Russ said “ come down here say it” and dude walked up to him and told him he stink in basketball 🤣🤣 damn https://t.co/aG05gQ4nwS
— ITSREAL85 (@itsreal85) January 16, 2024
Dealing with trash talk is the cost of doing business for professional athletes, so as long as the fan kept it to on-the-court disses, then that feels fair game. Once it becomes personal, though the fan — in my opinion — crosses the threshold into being wrong.
This season, the 35-year-old Westbrook is coming off the bench for the Clippers and is averaging 10.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
The confrontation with the Timberwolves fan on Sunday certainly isn’t the first time that Westbrook has gotten in a verbal altercation with a fan as it’s happened to him many times throughout his NBA career.
The fact is that no matter what Westbrook does, he’s in a lose-lose position so the unfortunate reality is that he’s just got to learn to take the trash talk better, regardless of what a fan might say.
Even if Westbrook is in the right and a fan does cross the line, his choices are to actually get physical and likely incur a massive monetary penalty and public relations nightmare or huff-and-puff as he does in the above videos.
Since being drafted by Oklahoma City with the 4th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Westbrook has played for the Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, and Clippers.
His accolades include one MVP award (2017), nine All-Star game appearances, two All-NBA First team selections, and two scoring titles (2015, 2017). Despite his divisive nature, he’ll surely be a Hall of Famer one day.