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An overzealous fan was escorted out of Brooklyn Nets security during Thursday’s game after storming the court in an attempt to get a selfie with Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell.
The incident unfolded with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, with Cleveland led the game, 121-115. The fan, wearing a purple sweatshirt, ran onto the field after a whistle and headed straight for Mitchell, phone in hand.
Referee Curtis Blair, left, tries to stop a fan who ran onto the court toward Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at the Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Broadcast cameras caught NBA player immediately backed up before security quickly grabbed the man.
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The game was briefly delayed as the fan was escorted out by security.
After the match, Mitchell revealed what the individual wanted and why he approached him specifically.
“I took a few steps back and then I repositioned my feet and I was ready to do what was necessary,” he said via CBS Sport. “The kid wanted a selfie. I know he’s probably in jail, but when he gets out he’ll probably have a good selfie. Sorry, I don’t think it’s a joke.”
A fan is taken off the court during the fourth quarter of the game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on October 24, 2025. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)
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Teammate Jarrett Allen praised Barclays Center security for their swift action.
“At first I was confused. And I saw him running toward Don and took a step toward him. But they have great security at the Barclays Center,” he said. “Shout out to them, they took care of it. When he left the court, his feet didn’t touch the ground. They carried him out of the building.”
Fan’s fate was not immediately clear, but future visits to the Barclays Center may not be in the cards for him.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell (45) looks to pass during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at the Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
As for Mitchell and the Cavs, they finished the night with a 131-124 victory over the Nets. Mitchell scored 35 points and Allen and Sam Merrill added 22 each.
