Rockets’ Vernon Maxwell explains origin of Utah Jazz slander

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you likely know that former Houston Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell takes an enjoyment at poking fun at the Utah Jazz fanbase and franchise. Part of this is what makes Maxwell such a worthy follow on Twitter, as his account provides pure comedy and the ability to instantly brighten one’s day with humor.

So here is the reason I’m in Utah. I decided to offer a free clinic to the best young shooters in the state as a truce to try and mend my relationship with Utah fans. Here are the best shooters the state had to offer…. pic.twitter.com/ziJgaFP8En

— Vernon Maxwell (@VernonMaxwell11) January 28, 2020

Maxwell is easily one of the most authentic voices the league has ever seen and his endless Jazz slander is pure gold (especially for Rockets fans). But why exactly has Maxwell taken such aim at the Jazz franchise? What’s prompted this amount of vitriol?

Although Maxwell may just be providing humor and amusement on Twitter, the Houston Rockets legend explained the origin of his focus on the Jazz franchise on the Real Ones podcast, giving a rather telling account of the experiences he had in Utah as an opposing player.

Houston Rockets legend Vernon Maxwell explains slander towards Utah Jazz fans

“The people said some things to me back in the day that I didn’t like. They used to talk all kinds of sh-, call me n-. Talk about your family.

But it’s cool, I don’t know what the f- they were trying to do. I don’t know if it was an intimidating thing or trying to make me scared, I don’t know.

But they was f-ing with the wrong m-fer. Them m-fers kinda scarred me out there with what they were saying to me.

They were going at my a-.”

Maxwell added that he had similar experiences with other fanbases, but that the conditions in Utah were constantly negative, because of the fans.

“That’s not the only place but it just happened every time I went there. You cross the line when you [talk about] my family and people that you really don’t know about. And talk about people that we love and we know.

I don’t want people talking about my mom. Because she brought up 4 of us by herself and she had to work 2 jobs.

I didn’t really see her that much. I don’t want people talking about my family and people that I love the most.

You could talk about me, the man. Talk about the player.

I’m the one that you see and you think you know. Talk about me and try to get in my head and try to get me off of my square while I’m playing.

Because that’s the objective. And that’s cool. Do that. But don’t bring my family into sh-. That’s when you cross the line.”

The topic of fans going too far during games has reared it’s ugly head of late, with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James serving as a recent example earlier this season. A more recent example of Jazz fans taking things personal towards opposing players involves former Houston Rockets All-NBA guard Russell Westbrook, who was on the receiving end of racial slurs by a couple in Utah.

The incident involving Westbrook led the Jazz franchise to issue a permanent ban towards the couple for “excessive and derogatory verbal abuse directed at a player”.

Maxwell spoke out about the ongoing issue, while giving heartfelt advice and an important reminder to fans.

“Mf-ers think they can say what they want because they bought a ticket. I’m a human being man.

We bleed too. We have feelings and sh-. Everybody thinks we’re invincible because we’re these professional athletes but we’re human beings.

Mf-ers don’t understand that we cry too. We hurt too. So mf-ers need to stay mindful of that sh-.”