"Slap someone from Utah in the back of the head!" - Rockets icon Vernon Maxwell keeps beef with Utah alive with savage social media post

Vernon Maxwell was known as one of the iconic players of the 1990s after playing a key role in the Houston Rockets’ 1994 and 1995 NBA championship runs. In their '90s dominance, which coincided with Michael Jordan’s temporary retirement, the Rockets were a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference beating teams such as the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and one of their biggest rivals, the Utah Jazz.

Keeping the rivalry alive, Maxwell posted a savage message for Jazz fans on the 33rd anniversary of his career-high 51-point performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Happy Vernon Maxwell Day, go out and score 51 points today or slap someone from Utah in the back of the head!” Maxwell tweeted on Sunday.

Maxwell has a long history of beef against the Utah Jazz and its fans. He once said that he was at the receiving end of racial discrimination on top of threats from fans whenever his team played in Utah during his NBA career.

The instances seem to be embedded in Maxwell’s memory, as he has been vocal about his hatred for the city of Utah.

Maxwell averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in his 13-year NBA career. He was known for his relentless energy on the court, often igniting runs for his team. He spent six seasons with the Rockets, making his mark as a franchise legend following their often-forgotten two titles in the 1990s.

Vernon Maxwell vowed to vent his ire on Utah after his playing days are gone

Vernon Maxwell’s disdain for the Jazz and their fans continued throughout the years. As his hatred of the city continues, Maxwell once vowed to remember all the hurtful things he heard from the fans and tell everyone about it.

"They did a lot to me back when I was playing, so I felt like whenever I got a platform, I was able to talk about something, I was going to make sure I put the damn Utah Jazz in this s**t," Maxwell said in November, via Chron.

With the age of social media, Maxwell has a platform to convey his feelings through X, where he often posts about his anger toward Utah fans.

"Hope everyone had a good MLK day yesterday. I wonder if the state of Utah celebrates MLK or if they even know who he is," Maxwell tweeted on Tuesday.

Maxwell and the Rockets defeated the Jazz in the 1995 playoffs and won their second straight NBA title. However, Houston has not been in the NBA finals since Maxwell departed from the team in 1996.