Spurs coach Mitch Johnson dismisses Wembanyama anthem controversy ahead of Knicks-Spurs Game 5
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Victor Wembanyama’s U.S. national anthem controversy comes after the NBA Finals in San Antonio.
Just as he did before Game 1, Wembanyama stood with his arms crossed during “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on Saturday night.
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Victor Wembanyama stands with his arms crossed during the national anthem before Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE)
OutKick/Fox News Digital asked Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. Whether the team talked to Wembanyama about the anthem controversy before the game and whether Wembanyama will be on the field for the anthem before Game 5.
“Not at all,” Johnson said. “I think there are a lot of players who are not on the field during the anthem. I don’t know if it’s habit, superstition, toilet, whatever. I don’t foresee anything related to that.”
This was Spurs’ first public response following Wembanyama’s stand during the anthem and his apparent absence before the match. It became the subplot of the finals.
The controversy began before Game 1, when ABC/ESPN cameras showed Wembanyama standing with his arms crossed during “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The image went viral on social media, with some fans criticizing the pose as disrespectful while others defended the French Wembanyama.
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But the review didn’t end there.
Wembanyama was not seen on the field during ESPN’s anthem broadcast before Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden. Most Spurs players appeared to be lining up for the anthem, but Wembanyama was not visible in the portions shown in the broadcast.
Notably, Johnson did not deny that Wembanyama chose to remain off the field during those two anthems.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson gave his first public response to the Wembanyama anthem controversy ahead of Game 5 of the Knicks vs. Spurs on Saturday night. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE)
OutKick reviewed ESPN broadcasts of the first four games of the series. Wembanyama was featured during the anthem broadcast before Games 1 and 2, but not in Games 3 and 4. ESPN also noticeably changed its broadcast presentation of the anthem for Game 4, but it’s unclear if this had anything to do with Wembanyama not being visible.
ABC/ESPN reverted to its normal anthem production for Game 5 with Wembanyama on the court, and the Spurs star was shown on the broadcast with his arms crossed.
OutKick/Fox News Digital continued to cover the issue throughout the Finals. OutKick/Fox News Digital sought comment from the Spurs, NBA and ESPN, but none provided a statement.
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To OutKick/Fox News Digital’s knowledge, the question posed to Johnson ahead of Game 5 was the first time a media member brought up the controversy with one of the parties involved.
That made the anthem before Saturday’s Game 5 the next potential flashpoint.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama stands with his hands in front of his face during the national anthem ahead of Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. (Daniel Dunn/Imagn Images)
Heading into Saturday night’s NBA Finals trailing the Knicks 3-1, the Spurs needed a win to keep their season alive and return the series to Madison Square Garden. New York, meanwhile, has a chance to win its first NBA title since 1973.
But before Game 5 started, Victor Wembanyama and the US national anthem were again part of the story.
The debate doesn’t end after Saturday night.
