It just appears that almost everyone around the NBA decided to stop talking about it.Before Game 1 between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, cameras showed Wembanyama standing with his arms crossed during the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The image spread quickly on social media and sparked immediate reaction from fans who believed the Spurs star was being disrespectful during the American national anthem.Victor Wembanyama's national anthem controversy persists as the NBA, Spurs and ESPN remain silent on his Game 1 posture and reported absences.(Al Bello/Getty Images)Others defended Wembanyama, noting that he is from France and suggesting the reaction was overblown.Fair enough.
Maybe it was.Maybe there was no intent behind it.
Maybe Wembanyama was just standing there and did not realize people would interpret the gesture as a statement.There’s a very easy way to find out.Ask him.KENDRICK PERKINS ACCIDENTALLY EXPOSED THE NBA'S BIGGEST PROBLEM DURING ESPN'S 'FIRST TAKE'OutKick asked President Donald Trump about Wembanyama’s anthem posture while aboard Air Force One after Game 1.Trump said he had not seen the moment, then asked the obvious question: What did Wembanyama mean by it?When OutKick informed the president that no one had asked Wembanyama about his intent, Trump said someone should ask him.That was a week ago.Since then, Wembanyama has been available to the media multiple times during the NBA Finals.
He has been asked about basketball.He has been asked about the Knicks.
He has been asked about the Madison Square Garden crowd.He has even been asked whether Trump’s attendance at Game 3 would be a distraction (although even that question was posed in a way that gave Wembanyama an escape hatch to avoid making a divisive political statement).But the anthem? Nothing.Not a single question asking whether he meant anything by crossing his arms during the anthem before Game 1.That seems...
odd.It became even more odd once the series shifted ...