NBA Fans Banned for Life
NBA Bans Two Fans for Life After Court Invasion, Wembanyama Selfie Attempt
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The NBA has handed down lifetime bans to two people after a fan ran onto the court during Game 1 of the NBA Finals and tried to take a selfie with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. The incident happened with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center, briefly stopping play for 89 seconds while security removed the intruder, according to AP News.
The intruder — identified by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office as a juvenile male — reached Wembanyama near the three-point line and held up a phone before two security guards stepped in, KSAT reported. The NBA confirmed both the court-rusher and a second individual involved in the incident are now permanently banned from all NBA arenas.
Wembanyama Surprised, Security Responds in Seconds
Wembanyama appeared calm during the breach, and he later joked about it. "I've never been in that situation. I didn't know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time a bat crossed the court," he said, according to WCNC. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson downplayed the disruption, saying, "I don't think it was an event at all. I thought security got him out of there."
After play was stopped, officials called a jump ball at center court. They could not determine who had possession during the disruption. Wembanyama won the tip. He finished the night with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks in his Finals debut, per TSN. The Spurs still lost 105-95.
Fan Posted Selfie Video to TikTok After Arrest
The juvenile was wearing a black sweatsuit and bright pink Nike shoes, The Mirror US reported. Despite being arrested, he reportedly posted the selfie video to TikTok around 1:00 AM — though the stunt did not go as planned. Wembanyama, who stands 7-foot-4, was reportedly too tall to fit in the frame, according to MySA.
The juvenile now faces charges of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. Under Texas law, those charges can carry up to 180 days in jail for adults. Because the intruder is a minor, the juvenile justice system will handle his case, MySA noted. The NBA did not publicly identify either banned individual.
NBA's Zero-Tolerance Rule Leaves No Room for Appeals
The NBA's "Zero Tolerance" policy, put in place during the 2019-20 season, calls for immediate ejection and possible lifetime bans for any fan who steps onto the court. The league's official statement was clear: "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," per AP News.
Lifetime bans are enforced through a shared "no-entry" database across NBA arenas, often backed by facial recognition technology at entry points, according to Business Insider. The Game 1 crowd at Frost Bank Center was a sellout — all 18,835 seats filled — making the security breach all the more notable for a Finals game.
Security Tightens as NBA Probes Second Incident Involving Brunson
The court invasion was not the only security concern from Game 1. The NBA is also investigating two other fans who allegedly directed vulgar remarks at Knicks star Jalen Brunson during the game, NBC Sports reported. Both issues have prompted the league to review courtside security ahead of Game 2 at Frost Bank Center.
Analysts noted that a fan reached the NBA's most high-profile young player during the biggest game of the year. Some Spurs fans on social media argued the 89-second stoppage broke the team's momentum during a stretch when the Knicks led by just six points. The league appears determined to send a message: the price of a court-storming stunt is permanent exile.
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