Westbrook's Wife Targeted After Rough Game

Following the Sacramento Kings' 131-94 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Thursday, February 19, 2026, Nina Westbrook, wife of Kings guard Russell Westbrook, disclosed receiving a deeply disturbing email from an angry fan. The message, characterized by hateful language and death wishes, targeted Westbrook's subpar performance of five points on 2-of-8 shooting.

Nina Westbrook stated on her Instagram Stories that receiving such vile messages has become a "routine" occurrence for her and her husband. She attributed these aggressive fan reactions to the escalating influence of sports betting, noting it brings out the worst in individuals and creates potentially dangerous situations for athletes and their families.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Nina expressed concern over the psychological implications of gambling addiction and the risks associated with its exposure, particularly to children. She emphasized that the threatening behavior directed at athletes and their families is a growing concern directly linked to the amplification of sports betting.

This incident is not isolated. In 2022, Russell Westbrook addressed the negative fan moniker "Westbrick" during a slump with the Lakers, explaining how fan harassment had impacted his family, preventing them from attending games. Nina had previously spoken out about receiving "death wishes" from critics.