Key Takeaways
- The NBA permanently banned two fans after one entered the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals to approach Victor Wembanyama.
- The disruption happened late in the fourth quarter, briefly pausing play before security removed the individual and officials resumed action.
- Authorities have not publicly identified the fans, and reports indicate the person who entered the court may be a juvenile.
The NBA issued lifetime bans to two fans after one of them ran onto the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and attempted to take a selfie near San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
The incident happened Wednesday night (June 3) at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, where the New York Knicks defeated the Spurs 105-95. According to AP, the person who entered the court was arrested after the fourth-quarter interruption, while a second individual was also banned for their alleged role. The league did not publicly disclose details about the second person’s involvement.
“The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested and will be banned for life from all NBA arenas,” an NBA spokesman said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. “A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident.”
ESPN reported that the fan ran onto the floor with a cellphone in his right hand with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter and New York leading 92-86. He stopped near Wembanyama and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson around the 3-point line before two security guards removed him from the floor.
Wembanyama said the moment caught him off guard. “I’ve never been in that situation,” he told reporters. “I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time [when] a bat crossed the court.” Wemby was referencing a 2024 Spurs-Timberwolves game when a flying bat's appearance briefly stopped play.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson downplayed the incident afterward: “I don’t think it was an event at all... I thought security got him out of there.”
Officials resumed play with a jump ball after they could not determine which team last had possession. Wembanyama won the tip, and the game continued.
What is known about the banned fans
Authorities have not publicly named either fan. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the person who ran onto the court appears to be a juvenile, which means Bexar County officials could not release his name or arrest information. The outlet also reported that the juvenile was believed to be from outside San Antonio and that the stunt may have been intended to draw attention to a website. Officials did not share his age or the name of the site.