76ers and Knicks Issue Bans After Fan Incidents With Players

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Atlanta Hawks Trae Young at Madison Square Garden in New York during Game 2 versus the Knicks on May 26, 2021

Credit: AP/Seth Wenig, Pool

The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers say they have banned fans after incidents in their respective arenas. The Knicks banned a fan they said spit on Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, and the 76ers not only banned but revoked the season-ticket membership from the fan who threw popcorn on Washington guard Russell Westbrook.

Players are asking the NBA to do more to protect them, and the league says rules surrounding fan behavior will be "vigorously enforced" going forward. Hawks coach Nate McMillan summed up the behavior Thursday, saying, “We’re just living in a society where people don’t have respect anymore. In no way should that be allowed, or should that happen, at a sporting events or really any event... I think New York did what it should have done in that situation."

Neither the Knicks or 76ers released the names of the fans who were involved, but the Knicks said they forwarded the information to authorities. The Knicks also issued an apology to Young and the Hawks organization for the fan's behavior. Young has been the subject of profane chants from some fans in Madison Square Garden throughout the first two games of their playoff series with the Knicks. The Hawks' guard taunted the fans back after hitting the game-winning shot in game 1 of the series.