A fan ran onto the court at Capital One Arena during the third quarter of Game 4 between the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, continuing a surge in poor fan behavior at NBA games.
The 76ers were running in transition Monday when the fan was tackled by a security guard. The fan slapped the backboard before he was taken down. The fan ran down an aisle of seats and onto the court.
The fan was put into handcuffs and escorted out of the arena.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE FANS?!
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 1, 2021
🤡boy getting arrested pic.twitter.com/SWK89E6BDz
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) June 1, 2021
#Wizards #NBAPlayoffs 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/CEbHn85Oln
— Jeremy Christopher (@Jeromice12) June 1, 2021
In a statement, Monumental Sports and Entertainment announced the fan will be banned from Capital One Arena and charges will be pursued by the Metropolitan Police Department.
During this evening’s game, a fan was apprehended by Capital One Arena Special Police after attempting to breach the court. He will be banned from the arena and charges are being pursued with DC MPD.
— Monumental Sports & Entertainment (@MSE) June 1, 2021
There have been a slew of fan incidents recently. Last week in Philadelphia, a fan dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook’s head as he made his way to the locker room with an injury. A fan attempted to spit on Hawks guard Trae Young in New York, and the Utah Jazz ejected three fans for heckling Memphis’ Ja Morant’s family with racist and sexist comments.
Additionally, a fan in Boston threw an empty water bottle at Kyrie Irving on Sunday. Cole Buckley, the 21-year-old suspect in Boston, was charged by the Boston Police Department with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
“You’re seeing a lot of old ways come up,” Irving said. “It has been that way in history in terms of entertainment, performers and sports for a long period of time and just underlying racism and just treating people like they’re in a human zoo. Throwing stuff at people, saying things. There is a certain point where it gets to be too much.”
