The fan who disrupted Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio on Wednesday night has received a lifetime ban from all future events, it has been revealed.
During the fourth quarter of the Spurs’ eventual 105-95 defeat to the New York Knicks, play was halted for around a minute when one troublemaking spectator ran on the court and tried to take a selfie with Victor Wembanyama.
The 7ft 4in San Antonio star looked somewhat amused as the fan attempted the selfie, before security quickly intervened to escort him off the court.
On Thursday morning, the NBA announced that the court invader and a second individual have been banned for life after the stunt.
‘The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested & will be banned for life from all NBA arenas,’ an NBA spokesperson told the Associated Press. ‘A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident.’
Just hours after the incident, footage captured by the fan as he stormed the court has gone viral on social media.
The fan who disrupted Game 1 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio has been banned for life
Play was halted for around a minute when one troublemaking spectator ran on the court
The young male is first seen slowly shuffling out of his courtside seat before making a run for it and heading straight over to Wembanyama.
Yet just as he gets himself in front of the two-time NBA All-Star, security guards thwart his selfie attempt and immediately drag him off the court.
As he’s taken away, the fan can still be heard shouting ‘Wemby! Wemby!’ with a huge grin on his face.
The moment took place during a critical sequence as the Spurs tried to get back into the game after surrendering a 14-point third-quarter lead.
Instead, the underdog Knicks took control of the final six minutes, outscoring the hosts 13-9 over that time to draw first blood in the series.
Their 105-95 victory marked a first win in the championship series since Game 3 in 1999, when they also faced the Spurs. Back in Manhattan, fans flooded out of Madison Square Garden and spilled on to the streets in celebration.
Excitement around New York has reached fever pitch after Jalen Brunson fought through injury to lead the Knicks to a sensational comeback win, which saw them battle back from 14 points down in the second half to move to within three wins of glory.
The two teams will meet again in Texas on Friday night before the series heads to Madison Square Garden for Game 3.
