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The NBA has handed down lifetime bans to two fans after one stormed the court during Game 1 of the Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
With 6:28 left in the fourth quarter, a man ran onto the floor at Frost Bank Center, phone in hand, attempting to snap a selfie with Spurs rookie star Victor Wembanyama. Security quickly tackled him off the court, halting play in a tight game that the Knicks eventually won 105–95.
A second individual involved in the stunt was also banned.
An NBA spokesperson confirmed: "The individual who entered the court area during Game 1 of The Finals was arrested and will be banned for life from all NBA arenas. A second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident."
Local authorities said the offenders face charges including criminal trespass and disruption of a public event, with penalties that could include jail time.
Wembanyama admitted he was caught off guard. "I've never been in that situation. I didn't know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time where a bat crossed the court," he told reporters, recalling a bizarre moment from January 2024 when a bat flew into a Spurs game before being captured by the team's mascot dressed as Batman.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson downplayed the incident, praising security for swiftly removing the fan. But the NBA's punishment shows its zero-tolerance policy for disruptions. The league's Code of Conduct explicitly warns that entering the court can lead to ejection, revocation of tickets, arrest, and permanent bans.
