SAN ANTONIO – A juvenile fan who rushed the court in Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks was arrested and has been “banned for life” from all NBA arenas.
A league spokesperson confirmed the juvenile’s lifetime ban from all NBA arenas. Security quickly escorted the fan off the court. No one was injured.
A Bexar County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told KSAT that the suspect is facing the following charges:
- disrupting meeting or procession
- criminal trespass
The sheriff’s office said it is not identifying the suspect because they are a juvenile.
An NBA spokesperson said a second person will also receive a lifetime ban for their role in the court storming.
Some Spurs fans believed the interruption cost the team possession of the ball during the crucial moments of the game.
According to the NBA Fan Code of Conduct, a fan who disrupts a game could face serious consequences — including immediate ejection and potential criminal charges such as criminal trespass or disorderly conduct.
Wembanyama told reporters after the game that he was “really surprised” in the moment.
“I’ve never been in that situation,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t know how to act. It really surprised me almost as much as that time a bat crashed the court.”
Wembanyama referenced a moment when a bat flew down to the court during a game at the Frost Bank Center in 2024.
During that incident, the Spurs Coyote captured the bat with a net after many attempts.
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