Fan who flipped off Russell Westbrook apologizes but says he was provoked by the Oklahoma City Thunder star

A Philadelphia 76ers fan who gained notoriety by flipping off Russell Westbrook with both middle fingers and yelling an obscenity toward the Oklahoma City Thunder star, all broadcast on national TV, has apologized for his actions.

But urologist Richard Harkaway also wrote in a statement issued Thursday night that he was “provoked by Russell Westbrook calling attention to my being overweight.”

Westbrook had just gotten fouled while making a layup late in the first quarter Wednesday night. The sequence took place in front of the courtside seat of Harkaway, whose NSFW actions (warning: explicit language and obscene gestures in the video) were caught by the TV cameras.

During the playoffs last season, the NBA fined Westbrook for “directing inappropriate language toward a fan.” This time, the superstar didn’t respond to Harkaway but asked an official if fans were allowed to do that.

“Crazy, right?” Westbrook said after the game. “I turned a new leaf though because that cost me $25,000 last time. I guess the fan, he'll be all right. I guess they can say whatever they want to the players and do what they want.”

Harkaway was escorted from his seat by security. At the time, the sudden celebrity seemed pretty pleased with himself.

Harkaway was much more contrite in his statement, issued to Philly.com the following night:

"As a part-time comedian I realize that my words and actions are sometimes inappropriate. In this instance, after standing up to boo and being provoked by Russell Westbrook calling attention to my being overweight, my action in response was clearly inexcusable and I am embarrassed. I sincerely apologize to my fellow Sixers fans, the Sixers organization, my colleagues and patients, and to Mr. Westbrook for my behavior." 

The doctor also gave his side of the story in a private Facebook post, reprinted by the New York Post.

“To all my FB friends who are seeing a picture of me on the Internet giving the finger to Russell Westbrook. Actually two fingers. Not as simple as it seems,” Harkaway wrote. “I love to scream at the players and anyone who has been to a game with me knows this. Part of my charm. What you may not have seen on any of the video clips is what started the whole thing, which was Russell Westbrook saying ‘sit down ... fat boy’ when I stood up to boo.”

He added: “I am sometimes sensitive about my plumpness. I guess I got a little out of hand.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii