NBA, Spurs and ESPN Stay Silent on Wembanyama Anthem Controversy Through 4 Finals Games
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
NBA, Spurs and ESPN Stay Silent on Wembanyama Anthem Controversy Through 4 Finals Games
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 12
Summary
Four NBA Finals games into the series, Victor Wembanyama still has not publicly explained why he stood with crossed arms during the U.S. anthem before Game 1.
Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden deepened the issue because Wembanyama was reportedly not on the court for the anthem, while most Spurs players appeared to be present.
ESPN also changed its Game 4 anthem coverage from wider team-line shots used in Games 1-3 to tighter individual shots, and the network did not immediately answer questions about whether that was deliberate.
The Spurs and NBA likewise did not respond to requests for comment, leaving unanswered whether Wembanyama's posture or reported absences conflicted with the league's policy requiring a dignified anthem stance.
The silence has persisted even as the Knicks completed a 29-point comeback in Game 4 to take a 3-1 Finals lead, pushing the controversy into the background without resolving it.