As fans have gained access to stadiums across the country during the NBA playoffs for the first time in over a year, the excitement level has reached a fever pitch. With numbers of fans rising to almost full capacity in certain cities, some fans have used this time to support their local teams and to display explicit racial animus towards Black players and their families.

Since the playoffs began, several incidents have happened with white men, in particular, expressing disgusting, racial vitriol directed at NBA players and at least in one instance, family members of the players.

Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards had a fan throw popcorn at him as he walked towards the locker room after an injury in Philadelphia, according to ESPN.

The parents of Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies said that they were the targets of verbal abuse by Utah Jazz fans. In an interview with ESPN, Tee Morant explained how a fan yelled out, “I’ll put a nickel in your back and watch you dance, boy,” while another made sexually explicit remarks to Jamie Morant, Ja’s mother, while also saying “Shut the f**k up, b***h.”

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young also had an encounter with a fan who spit on him while he was trying to inbound the ball during game 2 of their playoff game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, according to the NBA.

During another incident, Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets prepared himself to enter into a hostile environment at the TD Garden arena, home of the Boston Celtics, his former team.

”Hopefully, we can just keep it strictly basketball, there’s no belligerence or any racism going on. Subtle racism and people yelling sh*t from the crowd. But even if it is, that’s just the nature of the game and we’re just going to focus on what we can control," he said anticipating a tense atmosphere upon his return, The Athletic reported. 

When the game was over, a fan threw a water bottle at Irving as he headed for the locker room. According to Boston Police, the fan was arrested "for throwing an object,'' according to the statement.

“It’s unfortunate that sports has come to a lot of this kind of crossroads where you’re seeing a lot of old ways come up,” he told reporters after the game.“It’s been that way in history in terms of entertainment, performers, and sports for a long period of time, just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo. Throwing stuff at people and saying things. It’s a certain point where it gets to be too much […] people just feel very entitled out here.”

"The return of more NBA fans to our arenas has brought great excitement and energy to the start of the playoffs, but it is critical that we all show respect for players, officials, and our fellow fans," the NBA said in a statement on the code of conduct for fans. "An enhanced fan code of conduct will be vigorously enforced in order to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all involved."

In a little over a week, five NBA venues have banned fans, all white men, who have attempted to physically assault players and verbally assault their families.