The fan ran onto the court with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Ronald Cortes / Getty Images
SAN ANTONIO — Two fans at Game 1 of the NBA Finals received lifetime bans for their roles in an incident in which one of them ran onto the court in the fourth quarter and tried to take a selfie with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
With 6:28 left in the New York Knicks’ eventual 105-95 victory, a fan ran onto the court with his cell phone in hand and stopped to take a picture with Wembanyama and Knicks reserve center Mitchell Robinson.
Wembanyama appeared to stop and smile, but the NBA and local police didn’t think it was so funny. An NBA spokesperson said Thursday the individual who went onto the court was arrested, and that the fan and his co-conspirator are barred from all league arenas forever.
“I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said after the game. “I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time (when) a bat crossed the court,” referring to an incident in Minnesota before a game during his rookie year.
Wembanyama scored 26 points with 12 boards and three blocks in his NBA First finals game, but shot 6-of-21 and said of his performance, “I was bad.”
At least he’ll be allowed back on the court.
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