A 39-year-old San Antonio Spurs fan was assaulted on West 47th Street after NBA Finals Game 3, according to police. The NYPD released images of suspects caught on camera after midnight Tuesday as players from both teams—including Karl-Anthony Towns—condemned t
After NBA Finals Game 3 ended, the walk back to a hotel turned into something far uglier.
New York Police Department officers are looking for the suspects behind an assault on a San Antonio Spurs fan as he walked back to his hotel after Game 3. Just after midnight Tuesday, the NYPD released images connected to the attack on West 47th Street.
The victim, 39 years old, was surrounded by the suspects. Police say they punched and kicked him. They then stole the Spurs jersey right off his back.
The man was treated at the hospital for cuts to his face and bruising.
The condemnation came quickly—from the court and from people who say basketball’s intensity can’t become cruelty. Karl-Anthony Towns, a Knicks player, said the game is supposed to be grounded in respect.
“The game is built off of respect and passion. We want everyone to respect each other. We want everyone to enjoy basketball at its purest state. It’s the NBA Finals. There’s no better place to watch basketball. Leave the physicality to everyone on the court,” Towns said.
He added: “We can’t forget it’s just a game. We’re just playing a game out there. I’m all for passion but with respect for each other. It’s unacceptable.”
The attack followed the Spurs defeating the Knicks 115-111 at Madison Square Garden. In the hours after the game, several videos online allegedly showed Spurs fans being harassed afterward.
Actor and longtime Knicks fan Ben Stiller also weighed in on social media, posting: “Being a Knick fan doesn’t mean being disrespectful to Spurs fans in any way… we get caught up during the games but we gotta show respect for our fellow humans.”
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Spanish callers can use 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Spurs fan assault NYPD West 47th Street NBA Finals Game 3 Karl-Anthony Towns Ben Stiller Crime Stoppers Madison Square Garden
So they stole his jersey… that’s wild, like just take the trash talk not beat people up.
I saw a clip somewhere that it was “Spurs fans” doing the harassing, so idk what’s true. Either way kicking someone after the game is crazy. People act like the Knicks vs Spurs means fight club.
If Karl-Anthony Towns said leave the physicality on the court, that’s nice but wasn’t everyone already physical at MSG? Like it’s finals, people get amped. Still, stealing the jersey off his back sounds like something out of a TikTok prank but I guess it wasn’t.
It’s always New York with the nonsense after games. They say surrounded him and punched and kicked him and then stole it right off his back… like how do you even grab a jersey mid-attack?? Also why are they releasing camera images AFTER midnight, wouldn’t you have already identified them? I’m just saying seems sloppy, like someone gonna get away with it.