Victor Wembanyama's rough NBA Finals night continued outside the San Antonio Spurs' New York hotel, where ESPN reported that Knicks fans jeered him and video showed at least one egg thrown in his direction after Game 4.
Victor Wembanyama Targeted Outside Spurs Hotel
The Associated Press report carried by ESPN said the video showed Wembanyama entering the hotel with security when an egg was tossed toward him. The hotel was a few blocks south of Madison Square Garden, where the New York Knicks had just completed a historic comeback against the Spurs.
The report said it was not clear who threw the egg. The object cracked on a street sign, and Wembanyama briefly turned around and confronted someone near the hotel entrance before continuing inside.
The Spurs did not immediately respond to ESPN/AP's request for clarity on whether the object struck Wembanyama. That detail matters, because the video is enough to show a hostile scene but not enough to turn guesswork into fact.
Spurs Collapse Sets Off New York Scenes
The confrontation came after San Antonio blew a 29-point lead in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Wembanyama also missed two key free throws in the final minutes, leaving the Spurs on the brink of elimination against the Knicks.
The Knicks' win set off celebrations across New York, with fans filling streets, setting off fireworks, climbing lampposts and clashing with police at times. NYPD said 56 people were taken into custody after the game on charges ranging from assault to disorderly conduct.
NYPD Had No Egg Incident On File
The police department said large crowds again engaged in reckless and dangerous behavior during and after the game. An NYPD spokesperson also told ESPN/AP that the department had nothing on file about the egg incident.
That leaves the central image clear but the legal picture limited: Wembanyama was met by a hostile crowd after one of the Spurs' worst losses of the season, while the Knicks moved within one win of an NBA championship and New York tried to manage the celebration around it.