San Antonio’s famed maxim ‘Remember the Alamo’ was drowned out by chants of ‘Knicks in five!’ as a sea of New Yorkers flooded Frost Bank Center for Saturday’s pivotal NBA Finals matchup.
After blowing a 29-point lead in their historic Game 4 collapse at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, the Spurs and superstar Victor Wembanyama are facing elimination at home trailing 3-1.
Once again, the Spurs jumped out to an early lead over the Knicks, finishing the first quarter with a 23-13 edge.
After taking much of the blame for Wednesday’s loss due to some late-game mistakes, Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox struggled in the opening frame on Saturday by missing four of his first five shots and committing a turnover. Still, teammate Julian Champagnie drained a pair of three pointers and Wembanyama grabbed seven first-quarter rebounds as New York made just 4 of 25 field-goal attempts over the first 12 minutes of play.
New York’s celebrity fans didn’t seem too bothered by the slow start, particularly after a series of comeback wins over the first four games of the series. Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet was seen standing and applauding in his first row seat, albeit with his influencer girlfriend Kylie Jenner.
Meanwhile, back in the Big Apple, New Yorkers hoping to witness the team’s first championship since 1973 packed into bars and watch public parties throughout the city.
Victor Wembanyama is seen at the free throw line with Jalen Brunson standing behind him
Devin Vassell dribbles against Jalen Brunson during the first quarter on Saturday
Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet was among the New Yorkers in San Antonio on Saturday
Rush hour in New York usually takes a pass on Saturdays, but not with countless Knicks fans and World Cup tourists clogging the city’s trains, subways and highways ahead of the Finals and a Group C match between Brazil and Morocco.
‘Never seen penn station this packed???’ one woman wrote on X while posting video of crowded escalators rising from under Madison Square Garden.
Hours earlier, trains were filled with singing soccer fans draped in Moroccan red or Brazilian yellow. Round-trip tickets from midtown to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey was raised to a whopping $98 for the World Cup, much to the chagrin of passengers.
But most of the pedestrians in New York on Saturday were primarily focused on basketball.
New York Knicks fans attend a watch party in Central Park for Game 5 of the NBA Finals
One Knicks fan (right) raises a joint and a drink outside Madison Square Garden on Saturday
Wembanyama was once again seen with his arms folded during the national anthem before Game 5.
The Spurs star had drawn criticism for his posture during The Star-Spangled Banner in before Games 1 and 2. Later, the 22-year-old Frenchman was conspicuously absent for the song before Games 3 and 4 in New York.
And as has been the case throughout the series, Wembanyama faced online criticism for the perceived slight.
‘He’s trying to prove a point that he’s bigger than the National Anthem,’ one angry fan wrote on X.
‘WTF,’ a second critic wrote. ‘Victor Wembanyama again standing with his arms crossed during the National Anthem!!’
‘It’s extremely disrespectful,’ another added. ‘You’re fortunate to enjoy the fruits of Capitalism in America, the greatest country in the world. Show some gratitude, or Leave!’
Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was once again seen with his arms folded during the national anthem before Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in San Antonio
The NBA does require all teams to stand in a dignified posture for the national anthem before every game. But like other rules, such as coaching dress codes, the league has taken a more passive approach to enforcement in recent years
Whereas Denver’s Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was suspended one game for refusing to stand for the anthem in 1996, the NBA allowed its players to kneel in protest of racist police brutality after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
The Daily Mail previously sought comment from the NBA on Wembanyama’s presence during the anthem and any potential penalty he could face.
On Saturday, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson dismissed the controversy, saying players are often off the court during the anthem.
‘I think there’s plenty of players not on the floor during the anthem, I don’t know if that’s habit, superstition, bathroom… I don’t foresee anyone looking into it at all.’
