The scene outside the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad turned chaotic late Wednesday night when San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama was targeted by a Knicks fan following one of the most dramatic games of the NBA Finals.
As the Spurs returned to their Midtown hotel after New York’s stunning 107-106 comeback victory, Wembanyama stepped off the team bus and headed toward the entrance carrying a large Louis Vuitton duffel bag. That is when an object was thrown in his direction from a crowd of Knicks supporters gathered behind barricades outside the hotel.
🚨 BREAKING NOW: Rioters in NYC wearing Knicks jerseys are DESTROYING TAXI CABS while waving FOREIGN FLAGS following the Knicks win tonight
These people SHOULD NOT BE IN OUR COUNTRY to begin with
SURGE ICE INTO NYC NOW!!!! pic.twitter.com/UXcY21vP1S
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 11, 2026
Video posted to social media showed the object flying toward the 7-foot-5 center before smashing into a nearby street sign. Wembanyama quickly ducked as debris appeared to scatter from the impact. Security personnel immediately surrounded the Spurs star and rushed him into the hotel while fans continued shouting and jeering from the street.
Before disappearing inside, Wembanyama briefly looked back toward the crowd that had gathered to celebrate New York’s improbable victory. According to the NYPD, no arrests had been made and police had not been called to the hotel as of early Thursday morning.
The tense encounter came just hours after an emotional and physical Game 4 that saw the Knicks erase a staggering 29-point deficit. Wembanyama finished with 24 points and one assist across 44 minutes but struggled late in the game. He scored only eight points in the second half and missed two critical free throws with less than two minutes remaining while San Antonio held a narrow lead.
Sports are part of American culture. Wins and losses are nothing new.
What is new is the demographic shift in America.
These are people exploiting sports as an excuse to riot. They’re either foreigners, or they’ve passed through our foreign-funded universities and been taught… https://t.co/pjg4caaTJh
— Stella Escobedo (@StellaEscoTV) June 11, 2026
The game itself featured several heated moments. Early in the contest, Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was assessed a flagrant foul after driving an elbow into Wembanyama and knocking him to the floor. As teammates helped him up, Wembanyama responded by staring down Robinson and reportedly pointing to his temple while telling him, “I’m in your head.”
The physical play continued later when Wembanyama received a Flagrant 1 foul after his elbow struck Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns while attempting to break free during a possession.
Knicks fans throwing stuff at Wemby and the Spurs as they arrive at their hotel😬 pic.twitter.com/R2qGunsxBW
— KingCharge (@KingCharge) June 11, 2026
Tensions between Wembanyama and Knicks fans had already been building throughout the series. Many New York supporters remained angry over a controversial first-quarter play in Game 3 when Wembanyama shoved Knicks captain Jalen Brunson without receiving a flagrant foul. Had officials upgraded that play, Wembanyama would have accumulated enough flagrant points to face a suspension, potentially sidelining him for Game 5 in San Antonio.
Instead, both game officials and the NBA declined to issue additional discipline, a decision that only fueled frustration among Knicks fans.