A wild moment erupted during Thursday night’s Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup when a fan ran onto the court in an attempt to snap a selfie with Cavs star Donovan Mitchell.
The incident happened late in the fourth quarter with just five minutes left on the clock. Cleveland held a 121-115 lead when the man, wearing a purple sweatshirt, sprinted onto the hardwood after a whistle blew. His phone was out, and his target was clear: Donovan Mitchell.
Broadcast footage showed Mitchell instinctively backing away before Nets security intervened, quickly tackling and removing the fan. The game was briefly halted while the individual was escorted out of Barclays Center.
After the Cavaliers’ win, Mitchell spoke about the shocking moment. “I took a few steps back and got into position, ready for whatever was about to happen,” Mitchell told CBS Sports. “Turns out, he just wanted a selfie. I know he’s probably facing some time now, but when he gets out, he’ll have that selfie. Honestly, that’s not a joke.”
While no one was harmed, the interruption raised fresh concerns about player safety and how far fans will go for viral moments. The Cavaliers went on to secure the victory, but the night will be remembered just as much for the bizarre fan encounter as for the game itself.
