NBA investigating fan interaction with Jalen Brunson during Game 1 of NBA Finals

SAN ANTONIO — The NBA is investigating a fan interaction with Jalen Brunson during Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals that led to the New York Knicks guard complaining to lead game official Scott Foster about the fan’s behavior.

Earlier Thursday, the league announced it banned two fans for life after they co-conspired for one of them to walk onto the court and take a selfie with Victor Wembanyama.

An NBA spokesman also said the league was looking into whether a fan inappropriately taunted Brunson about “flopping.” The spokesman said the alleged taunts may not have been verbal, but rather a gesture. The ABC broadcast of Game 1 showed Brunson in a heated exchange with a fan near the court with about 20 seconds left, and Brunson appeared to re-engage with him after the game was over.

The Knicks won, 105-95, and Brunson finished with 30 points.

Asked on Thursday about the interaction, Brunson said, “I’m not touching that.”

Brunson did, however, have something to say when asked a question that alluded to the exorbitant ticket prices on the secondary market for finals games in New York.

Asked by a reporter what he would spend $7,500 to see — that’s the quoted price of a ticket to Game 3 Monday in Madison Square Garden — Brunson said: “A live Michael Jackson performance. That’s a good (question).”