Russell Westbrook, Paul George address Thunder announcer’s ‘cotton picking’ comments
Russell Westbrook on Saturday addressed the comments made earlier this week by Oklahoma City Thunder play-by-play announcer Brian Davis, who said during a broadcast that Westbrook was “out of his cotton-picking mind” after he tallied his ninth assist midway through the second quarter of the team’s final regular-season game.
“Brian’s been here for a while, I know him personally, but obviously what he said wasn’t OK,” Westbrook told reporters in Oklahoma City. “We all understand that.”
The Thunder suspended Davis for Game 1 of their first-round series with the Utah Jazz, and Westbrook said the longtime broadcaster spoke to the team after the incident.
“He definitely came in and talked to us,” Westbrook said. “The team has made a decision to do what they need to do and we’re just gonna move on from it.”
In a statement to ESPN, Davis apologized for using the phrase, which drew criticism for its racial undertones.
“It is with great remorse and humility that I accept this suspension for the insensitive words I used during Wednesday’s broadcast,” Davis said. “While unintentional, I understand and acknowledge the gravity of the situation. I offer my sincere apology and realize that, while I committed a lapse in judgment, such mistakes come with consequences. This is an appropriate consequence for my actions.”
Oklahoma City forward Paul George said Davis “owned up” and “took (the situation) head on,” adding that the Thunder have “something bigger to focus on and be worried about” now that the playoffs have begun.
Source:-https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/04/14/russell-westbrook-paul-george-address-thunder-announcer-cotton-picking-comments/517878002/
