NBA Bans Two Fans for Life After Brief Court Intrusion During Finals Game

The NBA issued lifetime bans from all arenas to two fans on Thursday after one ran onto the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and attempted to take a selfie with Victor Wembanyama. The incident occurred at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio with 6:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. The New York Knicks held a 92-86 lead at the time.

The fan ran onto the court holding a cellphone in his right hand, stopped in front of Wembanyama and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson near the 3-point line, and was pushed away by two security guards. Replays showed Wembanyama looking confused and smiling toward the phone. "I've never been in that situation," Wembanyama said.

"It really surprised me, almost as much as that time [when] a bat crossed the court," before a January 2024 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The fan, identified by the Bexar County District Attorney's Office as a juvenile, was arrested shortly after the incident. The office stated it is prohibited by law from discussing any information or details regarding the case.

A league spokesperson confirmed that a second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident. After security removed the fan, the game was further delayed when Spurs guard Dylan Harper lost control of the ball while guarded by Knicks forward Mikal Bridges.

The officiating crew called for a jump ball at center court because it could not determine which team last had possession.

Wembanyama won the jump ball. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 105-95. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game, "I don't think it was an event at all. I thought security got him out of there.