Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 14

Spurs Coach Dismisses Wembanyama Anthem Dispute Before Game 5 as San Antonio Trails Finals 3-1

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 14

Spurs Coach Dismisses Wembanyama Anthem Dispute Before Game 5 as San Antonio Trails Finals 3-1

Q: What is the true meaning behind Victor Wembanyama's controversial anthem stance?

There is no confirmed meaning behind Victor Wembanyama’s anthem stance. Based on the available facts, any claim that it was a protest or a sign of disrespect remains speculation. What is known is limited. Wembanyama, a French national, stood with his arms crossed during the anthem before Game 1 and again before Game 5. He was also not visible on court during anthem coverage before Games 3 and 4, though Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said the team had not discussed it with him and suggested players can be off the floor for many routine reasons. Johnson did not indicate the Spurs viewed it as a problem. No public explanation has come from Wembanyama, the Spurs, or the NBA. That absence of direct comment is the key fact. Without his own account, the “true meaning” cannot be established. The strongest evidence against reading too much into the posture is that NBA rules require a “dignified posture,” not a hand-over-heart gesture. Commentators including Stephen A. Smith noted that many people show respect by standing silently with different hand positions. Wembanyama was standing during the anthem, not engaging in any overt demonstration. At the same time, his earlier willingness to speak on sensitive public issues has fueled speculation that the stance could carry personal or political meaning. But there is no proof of that. The most accurate reading is that the controversy says more about public interpretation than about any verified intent from Wembanyama.

Q: Should foreign athletes be held to American standards for national anthem etiquette?

Foreign athletes should be expected to show respect during the U.S. national anthem, but not necessarily to follow every American gesture in exactly the same way. That distinction matters in Victor Wembanyama’s case. The NBA’s own rule is relatively broad: players must stand in a “dignified posture” during the anthem. It does not publicly require a hand over the heart, and commentators including Stephen A. Smith have noted that silent standing, bowed heads, or hands held in front or behind the body are also commonly understood as respectful. Even the U.S. Flag Code describes civilian etiquette, but it is not generally enforced as a legal mandate in this setting. For foreign athletes, cultural context is relevant. A French player may not instinctively adopt the same anthem customs many American fans expect. That does not automatically make crossed arms or a different stance disrespectful, especially absent a clear statement of protest or contempt. Intent matters, and in this case neither Wembanyama nor the Spurs have indicated that his posture was meant as a political message. The stronger standard is consistency and clarity from the league. If the NBA wants more specific anthem conduct, it can define it. Until then, the fairest measure is whether a player is behaving respectfully under league rules, not whether he mirrors a single American custom exactly. So the practical answer is yes to respect, no to rigid cultural conformity.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 14

Mitch Johnson gave the Spurs' first public response before Game 5, saying the team had not discussed Victor Wembanyama's anthem behavior and he saw nothing worth examining.
Game 5 broadcast footage again showed Wembanyama on court with his arms crossed during "The Star-Spangled Banner," matching the posture that first drew attention before Game 1.
Games 3 and 4 added to the scrutiny because Wembanyama was not visible during ESPN's anthem coverage at Madison Square Garden, and Johnson did not deny he may have stayed off court.
The issue has lingered through the Finals as the Spurs, NBA and ESPN have offered no explanation, even with San Antonio facing elimination and New York chasing its first title since 1973.