A fan ran onto the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals to take a selfie with two players.
The interloper sprinted towards the players with only 6:32 left in the fourth quarter, attempting to take a photo with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson.
Frost Bank Center security quickly got a hold of the man and removed him from the court. While Wemby appeared to enjoyed the incident, Robinson seemed confused. The moment came at a crucial time in the game, when the Knicks had just taken a 92-86 lead, and the Spurs were looking to score.
The game stopped for almost a minute while security corralled the fan, who, with a phone in hand, ran down the arena stairs from the opposite side of the team benches. He made his way to the far side of the court, near the 3-point line, before being stopped.
“A fan just ran on the floor and wants to take a selfie. Security quickly takes him away. Crowd gives him the appropriate boo, fortunately nobody hurt,” ESPN broadcaster Mike Breen said during the incident, per the New York Post.
“It’s just too good for that to happen,” analyst Tim Legler added.
ESPN reports that the fan was arrested and given a lifetime ban from all NBA arenas. According to an NBA spokesperson, “A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident.”
When play resumed, the referees decided to give the ball to the Spurs midcourt. The Knicks ultimately won 105-95.
“I've never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said postgame. “I didn't know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time where a bat crashed the court,” he added, referencing a January 2024 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves when the Spurs mascot, The Coyote, captured the animal with a net.
