In honesty, people are crazy.
Baseball has a stadium with a large wall, players are more separated. Football has the same thing, with more separation and security. Hockey has the plexiglass separation. Basketball has seats right next to the court and players pretty much.
So Le Bro, the moron, may have a point here. People are idiots. Maybe they need to put a physical barrier up like hockey. That would help.
Back in ‘96, was it? Florida Panther fans (Hockey) were throwing plastic rats at opposing players. It took longer than it should have, but the league did ban the practice. (The home team can be penalized for any offenses).
I think similar things have happened in baseball and football too.
You are aware that the plexiglass around the ice is there to protect hockey FANS from the 3 1/2” chunk of hard rubber flying around at 90+ miles per hour, right?
Baseball the separation is to prevent fans affecting the play. Same with American Football.
Player safety has NEVER been the reason for any of the protective measures in sport. With the possible exception of motorsports.
While b-ball has less audience separation, the players are still far from threatened by the fans. Not that I care either way, as I dislike the squeak-squeak, bunch of genetic freaks bouncing a pig’s bladder to throw it at a peach basket, game.