January 1, Spurs Coach Breaks Silence on Wembanyama Anthem Scandal — What He Said Will Shock You

Wyatt’s Take

• French NBA star Victor Wembanyama has been crossing his arms during the national anthem — or skipping it entirely — throughout the NBA Finals, sparking outrage across Middle America.
• Spurs coach Mitch Johnson brushed off the controversy with a weak non-answer, refusing to address whether the team talked to their franchise player about respecting our country.
• The NBA, ESPN, and the Spurs organization stayed silent for days while Americans demanded answers — until Fox News Digital forced the issue before Game 5.

The national anthem controversy surrounding San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama has reached a boiling point. And the league’s silence is deafening.

Before Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, the French-born center once again stood with his arms crossed during “The Star-Spangled Banner” — the same posture that ignited fierce debate after Game 1. Fox News Digital confronted Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson before tipoff, asking directly whether the team had addressed Wembanyama’s anthem behavior.

“Not at all,” Johnson said.

“I think there are plenty of players that are not on the floor during the anthem. I don’t know if that’s habit, superstition, bathroom, whatever it may be. I don’t foresee anything looking into that at all.”

It was the first time anyone from the Spurs organization publicly commented on the growing firestorm. The NBA, ESPN, and the team itself had stayed completely silent despite mounting criticism from fans who saw Wembanyama’s crossed-arms stance as disrespectful to the country that’s made him a multimillionaire.

The drama began before Game 1 when ABC cameras captured Wembanyama standing rigid with his arms folded across his chest during the anthem. The image spread like wildfire on social media, with countless Americans calling out the pose as offensive while defenders pointed to his French citizenship as an excuse.

But things got even more suspicious during Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden. Wembanyama wasn’t visible on the court during ESPN’s anthem coverage for either game. While most Spurs players stood in line with their hands over their hearts, their franchise player was nowhere to be seen during the broadcast.

When pressed, Coach Johnson notably did not deny that Wembanyama chose to stay off the court during those anthems. His vague response about “habit, superstition, bathroom” raised more questions than it answered.

Fox News Digital reviewed all ESPN broadcasts from the first four Finals games. Wembanyama appeared during anthem coverage for Games 1 and 2 — both times with arms crossed. He was not shown during Games 3 and 4. ESPN even changed its broadcast presentation of the anthem for Game 4, though the network refuses to explain why.

For Game 5 back in San Antonio, ABC returned to its normal anthem production. And sure enough, Wembanyama was back on the court — arms crossed once again.

The stonewalling from the NBA establishment has been complete. Fox News Digital reached out to the Spurs, the NBA league office, and ESPN repeatedly throughout the Finals. Not one offered any explanation or comment. The question posed to Johnson before Game 5 was reportedly the first time any media member had directly asked one of the involved parties about the controversy.

Meanwhile, the Spurs entered Saturday night facing elimination, trailing the New York Knicks 3-1. New York had a chance to capture its first NBA championship since 1973. Instead of focusing on basketball, the league found itself dealing with an anthem scandal it tried desperately to ignore.

President Donald Trump even weighed in on the controversy earlier in the series, bringing national attention to Wembanyama’s posture during the anthem. Still, the NBA stayed silent.

After Saturday night’s Game 5, one thing is clear: this controversy isn’t going away. And the league’s refusal to address it head-on only makes it worse.

Why It Matters

The national anthem represents the sacrifices of millions of Americans who’ve bled and died for this country. When a foreign-born athlete making tens of millions in American dollars can’t show basic respect during our anthem — and the league won’t even acknowledge it — working Americans have every right to be furious. This isn’t about where someone was born. It’s about gratitude, respect, and recognizing that playing basketball in America is a privilege, not a right. The NBA’s silence speaks volumes about how disconnected the league has become from the values of the fans who make it all possible.