Victor Wembanyama has been an NBA player for only two weeks, but the San Antonio Spurs rookie is already dealing with some Hollywood — or should we say Las Vegas — drama.
Pop icon Britney Spears was involved in an incident with San Antonio Spurs security on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, according to TMZ. Spears and her husband Sam Asghari were heading to dinner at Catch restaurant at the ARIA Resort and Casino when the Grammy Award-winning performer spotted Victor Wembanyama. Spears, who was also swarmed with fans, recognized the 19-year-old center and wanted to take a photo with him.
Sources told TMZ that a member of the Spurs security team who was with Wembanyama immediately turned and backhanded Spears, which knocked her glasses off and caused her to fall to the ground. After Spears composed herself and went to her table, the security staffer reportedly went over and explained that he did not know who Spears was, telling her “you understand how it is when you’re being swarmed by fans.”
Spears supposedly accepted the apology but filed a report with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The man who allegedly hit her was identified in the report as Spurs director of team security Damian Smith. Police said the incident is not being treated as a criminal matter since Smith was trying to protect Wembanyama, according to TMZ.
Wembanyama, who has set a very lofty goal for himself heading into his first season, is viewed by many as the most promising NBA prospect since LeBron James came out of high school. The incident with Britney is an illustration of how well-known Wembanyama is becoming.
