NBA bans – The NBA banned two fans for life from all NBA arenas after a court-storming incident during Game 1 of the NBA Finals involving a selfie next to San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. One fan was arrested minutes after running onto the court during the middle of the
SAN ANTONIO — The moment the court door opened and a fan ran out at the wrong time, the NBA Finals stopped—just long enough for the arena to register what had happened.
On Thursday, the NBA announced it would ban two people for life from all NBA arenas after one of them was arrested shortly after running onto the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and appearing to take a selfie next to San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama.
The second lifetime ban was issued for the fan’s involvement in Wednesday night’s incident, which took place midway through the fourth quarter of the game between the Spurs and New York Knicks. The league did not disclose specifics about the second person’s role.
The NBA spokesman said in the news release: “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,” adding that “A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident.”
The fan who was arrested entered the court from the sideline opposite the team benches—starting from behind the play—and ran into San Antonio’s offensive end. Two security guards quickly pulled him from the floor. and it did not appear that the person made physical contact with Wembanyama or any New York players.
Wembanyama did not seem bothered by what happened, either during the disruption or after play resumed. “I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t know how to act.”
Officials stopped play for 1 minute and 29 seconds before the game resumed with a jump ball. The fan was removed from the court area through a baseline tunnel.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said he did not see the moment as something that lingered in the game. “I don’t think it was an event at all,” Johnson said. “I thought security got him out of there. I think everybody moved on to the next play.”
NBA NBA Finals Game 1 court storming lifetime ban Victor Wembanyama San Antonio Spurs New York Knicks Mitch Johnson