Following the Spurs’ 115-111 win on Monday, June 8, videos started circulating of San Antonio fans in New York City getting seemingly assaulted by Knicks fans. Many were mobbed by people, had their jerseys ripped off, got into fights or were harassed getting into taxis. One fight at Bryant Park led to more than 20 arrests, according to Fox News. The chaos was a major talking point during media day on Tuesday, June 9, as Victor Wembanyama and the rest of the Spurs responded to the incidents.
“My thoughts, of course, is that we can’t forget it’s a game,” Wembanyama said to the San Antonio Express-News on Tuesday, June 9. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion but to the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”
Wembanyama finished Game 3 with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Brooklyn native Julian Champagnie added another 12 points, going 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and also spoke up about the attacks.
“I feel like for the fans it should never be that serious where you have to jump people, beat people up, follow people home, stuff like that,” Champagnie said to the Express-News. “It’s just a basketball game at the end of the day. Whether we win, they win, it doesn’t really matter. Everybody should be able to come and enjoy the game no matter who they’re (rooting) for.”
Keldon Johnson, the Sixth Man of the Year, added that nobody on the Spurs wants to see any fans get hurt.
“It’s just the game of basketball,” Johnson said to the Express-News. “Obviously, we’re competing at a high level, competing for a championship, but we don’t want to sacrifice safety over a game we love. We go out there and compete every night, and we value safety. I feel that’s one through 15 on this side and one through 15 on that side.”
Game 4 of the NBA Finals returns to Madison Square Garden at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10. The series then returns to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday, June 13.