NBA Bans Fan for Life After Courtside Selfie Attempt With Victor Wembanyama
During Game 1 of the NBC Finals on Wednesday, June 3, a fan ran onto the court during the fourth quarter, attempting to take a selfie with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
As a result, the fan was arrested and has been given a lifetime ban from all NBA arenas, an NBA spokesperson told ESPN. They added that a "second individual will also receive a lifetime ban for his role in the incident."
The man, wearing a black hoodie, white shirt, and black pants, ran out onto the field before he was taken away by security guards. Because neither team had clear possession of the ball, the referees determined that it would be a jump ball at center court.
POV of the fan who ran on the court in Game 1
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) June 4, 2026
Wemby was too tall to fit in the video 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZHAgSdEObB
"I've never been in that situation. I didn't know how to act," Wembanyama said after the game. "It really surprised me, almost as much as that time [when] a bat crossed the court."
Along with Wembanyama, many people reacted to this viral moment on social media, poking fun at the fan for not even being able to get the Spurs star's face in the photo because he's so tall.
"If you're going to do this dumb (expletive) at least tilt the damn camera up," one person wrote.
"Risked it all and still couldn't get a full picture with Wemby," another person commented.
"Risking a lifetime ban from every single NBA arena and potential jail time just to get a blurry selfie with a 7-foot-4 French dude is an unbelievable dedication to the bit," someone posted.
Unfortunately for Wembanyama and the Spurs, they weren't able to get the victory in front of their home crowd, with the New York Knicks winning 105-95 and taking a 1-0 lead. Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals will take place on Friday, June 5, at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, with the Spurs getting an opportunity to tie the series.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 10:13 AM.