The article discusses several instances of NBA fans going too far in their behavior, including a 70-year-old man trying to fight Russell Westbrook, a billionaire investor shoving a player and telling him to "hold up," and a fan shining a laser pointer at James Harden's eyes. The article also mentions a city-wide riot that broke out when LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers and the infamous "Malice at the Palace" brawl between the Pacers and Pistons in 2004, which involved players fighting with fans in the stands. The article concludes by mentioning Kyrie Irving, who is known for his unpredictable behavior, and invites readers to watch a video about what other NBA players think of him.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In 2016, a fan threw a punch at an NBA player, Russell Westbrook.
2. A 70-year-old man tried to fight Russell Westbrook during a game between the OKC Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016.
3. The altercation occurred on the opening night of the season, during Joel Embiid's first game.
4. The fan was thrown out of the arena and later issued a public apology to Westbrook and the 76ers organization.
5. In 2019, Warriors investor Mark Stevens shoved Kyle Lowry during a game and was fined $500,000 by the NBA.
6. Stevens was also banned from attending NBA games for an entire year.
7. In 2016, a fan shone a laser pointer into James Harden's eyes during a game between the Rockets and the Jazz.
8. The fan was thrown out of the arena and banned from attending NBA games for a year.
9. Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 to join the Miami Heat, which led to a decline in the Cavaliers' value from $476 million to $355 million.
10. Lebron James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and led the team to a championship in 2016, ending a 39-year drought for the city of Cleveland.
11. The "Malice at the Palace" incident occurred on November 19, 2004, during a game between the Pacers and the Pistons.
12. The incident involved a brawl between players and fans, which led to the biggest fines and suspensions in NBA history.
13. Ron Artest was suspended for the entire season and lost nearly $5 million in salary due to the incident.
14. Steven Jackson was suspended for 30 games and lost $1.7 million, while Jermaine O'Neal was suspended for 15 games and lost $4.1 million.