A thrill-seeking fan stormed the court during clutch time of Game 1 of the NBA Finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.
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The wild moment occurred midway through the fourth quarter, with the Knicks holding a 92-86 lead. The fan raced onto the court and stopped next to the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, to record a selfie video.
He was quickly apprehended by a pair of security workers and rushed off the court. The man didn't appear to make contact with any of the players, and the replay showed Wembanyama laughing at the bizarre incident.
"I've never been in that situation," Spurs center Victor Wembanyama said. "I didn't know how to act. It really surprised me, almost as much as that time where a bat crossed the court."
The selfie-taking fan can likely expect a lifetime ban from the NBA, which won't take too kindly to their championship series being disrupted. There could be legal repercussions as well, as entering a restricted area at a stadium is a crime in Texas. Criminal trespass and disorderly conduct are both possible misdemeanor charges. The former is punishable by up to 180 days in jail.
"I don't think it was an event at all," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "I thought security got him out of there. Everybody moved on to the next play."
Oddly enough, this is the second time this year that a fan halted play during a championship game. A field invader streaked shirtless across Levi's Stadium during Super Bowl LX.
Fueled by Jalen Brunson's late-game heroics, the Knicks defeated the Spurs 105-95 in Game 1. The win extends the Knicks' playoff win streak to 12 games, becoming the seventh team in NBA history to achieve the feat.
Game 2 will be held at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday in San Antonio.
