Spurs coach Mitch Johnson addressed questions about Victor Wembanyama’s national anthem posture.
The San Antonio Spurs are attempting to stay focused on basketball as questions surrounding Victor Wembanyama’s national anthem posture continue to circulate during the 2026 NBA Finals.
Ahead of Game 5 against the New York Knicks, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson addressed the situation publicly for the first time, offering a brief but steady response when asked whether the team had discussed the matter internally.
The comments come as the Spurs trail the Knicks 3-1 in the series and face elimination on their home court at Frost Bank Center.
Mitch Johnson says the team has not addressed the issue
Johnson stated that the organization has not had internal discussions with Wembanyama about the anthem situation.
He emphasized that players are often not on the court during the national anthem for a variety of reasons, noting that routines and personal habits can differ from player to player.
The coach did not indicate any disciplinary concern or expectation of change going forward.
Spurs frame anthem positioning as routine behavior
Johnson suggested that being off the court or positioned differently during the anthem is not unusual in professional basketball.
He described possible explanations such as personal routines, superstition or timing related habits that vary among players across the league.
The Spurs did not characterize Wembanyama’s actions as a violation of team policy or protocol.
The controversy began in Game 1
The discussion surrounding Wembanyama intensified after Game 1 of the Finals when television cameras showed him standing with his arms crossed during the national anthem.
The image quickly spread on social media, drawing mixed reactions from fans and observers, with some interpreting it as disrespectful and others defending the French born star.
The topic resurfaced in later games when he was not consistently shown during anthem coverage on broadcast telecasts.
Broadcast visibility added to the speculation
During Games 3 and 4, Wembanyama was not clearly visible in ESPN’s anthem coverage, even as most Spurs players appeared to be lined up on the court.
The variation in broadcast presentation added to ongoing discussion, although there has been no official explanation from the league or network regarding those differences.
For Game 5, coverage again showed Wembanyama on the court with teammates.
Focus remains on elimination pressure in Game 5
A series marked by rising tensions. The egg throwing was not the first incident involving fan behavior during the Finals. Throughout the series, Knicks fans celebrations had at times turned violent. The NYPD made arrests at watch parties as authorities attempted to manage the situation, but tensions between opposing fans continued to escalate with each game.
Adding another layer to the story, Wembanyama had also been at the center of a separate controversy throughout the series. As reported ahead of Game 5, the French born star was seen standing with his arms crossed during the U.S. national anthem before Games 1 and 2, and was not visible on the court during anthem coverage before Games 3 and 4. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson confirmed the team had not addressed the matter with Wembanyama directly, noting that many players are not on the floor during the anthem for various reasons.
With the Spurs fighting to stay alive in the series and the Knicks chasing their first NBA title since 1973, the 2026 NBA Finals had become as much a story off the court as on it and the debate around fan conduct showed no signs of cooling down heading into the critical final games.
Despite the external attention, the Spurs entered Game 5 focused on extending their season against the Knicks.
San Antonio trailed 3-1 in the series and needed a win to force a Game 6 and avoid elimination.
New York, meanwhile, was one victory away from securing its first NBA championship since 1973.
Within that context, the Spurs have continued to publicly emphasize basketball performance over off court narratives.
Johnson’s comments reflect an effort to downplay distractions as the Finals reach a decisive stage.
As the series continues, attention remains divided between on court execution and the broader storylines that have emerged around one of the NBA’s most closely watched young stars.