The NBA could barely bask in its slow return to normalcy, hardly get its feet into a non-bubble postseason before fans in three cities treated players to a full serving of disrespect.
Ugly incidents Wednesday in Philadelphia, New York and Salt Lake City did nothing to foster appreciation between the players and fans, only reminding players why they often resented the paying customers to begin with.
Fans being allowed back into NBA arenas added some soul to a game that relies on the entire atmosphere being electric, creating a shared experience for 15,000 people and a wistful one for those viewing — the better the show, the more the game feels like an event you don’t want to miss.