NBA players across the league have taken a stance against nasty hecklers this season. Guys like Kevin Durant, Patrick Beverley and Tristan Thompson have all been fined for their interactions with unpleasant fans in recent weeks.
On Wednesday night, it was Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin who confronted a fan seated under the hoop. Blake was clearly pissed off about what was said and had to be restrained from getting face to face with the heckler, who was ejected for his actions.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, the fan was later identified as Rich Ruohonen, an attorney at TSR Injury Law in Bloomington. Ruohonen was allegedly chirping at Griffin all game, and once the All-Star forward started heating up he began staring down his heckler after each made basket.
“I told him he was career 33 percent from 3 so keep shooting it. And he went one for his first five in the first half,” Ruohonen said. “I told him in the third, ‘See I told you! Just bring it inside where you have a chance.’”
Griffin went off for 18 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, as the Pistons overcame a 14-point deficit to force overtime. Detroit went on to win by the final of 129-123, improving to 15-14 for the season.