Knicks Fans Target Wembanyama After Dramatic Game
Fans of the Knicks had a wild reaction as they hurled objects at Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and his teammates while they were returning to their hotel following a remarkable comeback victory in New York on Wednesday night.
As Wembanyama exited the team bus and moved towards the entrance of the Ritz-Carlton New York Nomad, something was thrown in his direction, causing him to bump into a road sign. There’s a video of the moment circulating on social media.
The towering 7-foot-5 center, dressed in casual attire and weighed down by a large Louis Vuitton duffle, bent slightly as debris hit a nearby mailbox, shattering on impact.
Following the Spurs’ narrow 107-106 loss, where they squandered a 29-point lead, a security guard had to usher Wembanyama into the hotel as enthusiastic fans shouted “Wembee” while heckling him, one of the league’s top defensive players.
Before disappearing behind the hotel doors, Wembanyama glanced back at the throng of Knicks supporters gathered behind a metal fence.
Known affectionately as “Alien,” he managed to score 24 points and provide one assist over 44 minutes, but his performance dwindled in the second half—he only scored eight points and missed two pivotal free throws with just under two minutes left when the Spurs were ahead 104-103.
The game took a chaotic turn early, with Knicks center Mitchell Robinson being called for a harsh foul after elbowing Wembanyama and sending him to the ground. After this, Wembanyama made his psychological jab at Robinson, pointing to his head and insinuating he had gotten inside Robinson’s mind.
After the Spurs held a commanding 29-point lead at halftime, Wembanyama endured an elbow from Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, which he attempted to evade but ended up facing a Flagrant 1 foul as well.
Fans had gathered around W. 28th Street, eagerly waiting for the Spurs’ return to their luxury hotel, where they were staying during the Finals.
Earlier in the day, Knicks supporters sent the Spurs off to Madison Square Garden with a chorus of boos as they boarded buses for what’s famously known as the “world’s most famous arena.”
Wembanyama, following a controversial shove on Knicks captain Jalen Brunson in Game 3, had earned a reputation as Public Enemy No. 1 among New Yorkers. Had he been penalized for that incident, he would have faced serious consequences, including a one-game suspension, missing Saturday’s Game 5 in San Antonio.
Despite calls from New York fans for an egregious foul to be assessed against him, both referees and NBA officials declined to penalize Wembanyama. It’s interesting how quickly the tides can turn in the NBA, isn’t it?
