A selfie that paralyzed the NBA Finals: A fan invaded the court to get closer to Wembanyama

The NBA Finals experienced an unexpected and unusual scene during the first game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. In the middle of the last quarter and with the game still open, a fan jumped onto the Frost Bank Center court with the intention of taking a selfie with Victor Wembanyama, causing a disruption in the decisive moments of the game.

The incident occurred with 6:28 remaining in the game, and the Knicks were leading 92-86. The fan stormed the court with a mobile phone in his right hand and headed straight towards the French star of the Spurs.

Upon reaching the three-point line area, the intruder stood in front of Wembanyama and close to Mitchell Robinson, the New York center. His intention seemed clear: to capture a photo with the most high-profile player from San Antonio. However, he barely had time to try. Two security members reacted immediately and removed him before he could complete the picture.

Television replays showed a surprised Wembanyama watching the scene with a mix of bewilderment and a smile as the fan pointed his phone at him.

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After the game, the Frenchman admitted he had never experienced such a situation before.

“I had never been in a situation like that. I didn't know how to react. It surprised me a lot, almost as much as that time a bat flew across the court,” he commented in reference to a curious incident that happened before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in January 2024.

The court invasion added even more confusion to a stretch of the game that was already marked by a controversial play. Shortly before the incident, Spurs guard Dylan Harper lost control of the ball while being defended by Mikal Bridges. After reviewing the situation and deliberating, the referees determined they could not establish with certainty which team had touched the ball last.

As a result, a jump ball was called at midcourt. Wembanyama prevailed in that action, and the game was able to resume normally after the interruption caused by the fan.

While the scene quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the night, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson played down the incident.

“I don't think it was an event at all. Security removed him. I think everyone moved on and continued with the next play,” the coach stated.

For Wembanyama, however, the main concern was not the episode with the fan, but the final result. The Knicks ended up winning 105-95 to take the first game of the Finals, and the French player did not hide his disappointment with his performance.

Poor Performance by Victor Wembanyama

“I was bad tonight. It's no more complicated than that. I think we let this game slip away,” he said after recording 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six turnovers, albeit with a modest 6 for 21 from the field.

The NBA maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards such behaviors. Any fan who invades the court during a game risks immediate ejection from the venue, possible bans from future events, and even criminal charges. At the moment, it has not been disclosed whether the person involved in the incident was ultimately detained.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un selfie que paralizó las Finales NBA: un colgado invadió la pista para acercarse a Wembanyama