Another Utah Jazz fan has been permanently banned for "degrading and offensive conduct" directed at Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook.
Earlier this week the Jazz banned 45-year old Shane Keisel from all events at Vivent Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, based on "excessive and derogatory verbal abuse" directed at Westbrook that violated the NBA Code of Conduct.
According to Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News, the Jazz have now tracked down another fan who was involved in a similar verbal altercation with Westbrook prior to Game 4 of the Thunder vs Jazz playoff series on April 23, 2018.
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Jazz owner Gail Miller addressed the crowd ahead of Thursday night's victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves while the Fan Code of Conduct was displayed on the Jumbotron.
“This should never happen,” Miller said (H/T Desert News). “We are not a racist community.”
Woodyard reports, “The Jazz aren’t taking these matters lightly."
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Jazz star Donovan Mitchell released a statement earlier this week following the most recent Westbrook-Jazz fan altercation. In it, he vowed to work with the league through his foundation to help combat racial inequality.
"Over the coming months I will work with the team, my teammates and the league to help make our arenas and our communities more inclusive and welcoming. That includes bans on hate speech and racism.
I don't have all the answers, but this off-season I will work through my foundation, SPIDACARES to take a closer look at race issues across the country to see what I can do to help combat against racial inequality."
