Philadelphia 76ers fan banned after throwing popcorn at Russell Westbrook

Incident occurred when Washington Wizards star was walking back to locker room after picking up injury

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  Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, left, checks on Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook after an injury during the second half of Game 2 in a first-round NBA playoff series. AP

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  Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards winces during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference first round at Wells Fargo Centre. AFP

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  Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards picked up an injury during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers. AFP

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  Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook is helped to the locker room after an injury. AP

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  Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook limps down the court after an injury. AP

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  Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook reacts after a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Centre. USA TODAY Sports

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  Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook reacts as he dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers. AP

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  Russell Westbrook shoots over Tobias Harris. AFP

A Philadelphia 76ers fan who dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook was banned indefinitely from the Wells Fargo Centre and had his season ticket revoked, the NBA team said on Thursday.

The unnamed fan triggered uproar on Wednesday after showering injured Washington Wizards ace Westbrook with popcorn as he left the court during game two of the Wizards' Eastern Conference playoff series against the Sixers.

An angry Westbrook needed to be restrained from confronting the fan by security staff following the incident.

A Sixers statement on Thursday said the fan had been identified and barred from games.

"We have determined that the person involved will have his season ticket membership revoked, effectively immediately," the team said.

"In addition, he will be banned from all events at Wells Fargo Centre indefinitely. We apologise to Russell Westbrook and the Washington Wizards for being subjected to this type of unacceptable and disrespectful behaviour. There is no place for it in our sport or arena."

A furious Westbrook called on the NBA and venue managers to crack down on unruly fans, saying the problem was "getting out of hand."

"The amount of disrespect, the amount of fans just doing whatever they want to do – it's just out of pocket," Westbrook said.

"There are certain things that cross the line. Any other setting ... a guy were to come up on the street and pour popcorn on my head, you know what happens.

"In these arenas, you got to start protecting the players. We'll see what the NBA does."