Britney Spears and NBA No. 1 Draft Pick Victor Wembanyama Involved in Las Vegas Incident

Article ByKyle Garlett

July 7, 2023

Spread the Word:

Posted in: US Gambling News, Nevada Gambling News, US Sports Betting News

The first overall pick in last month’s NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama, was involved in a bizarre incident with Britney Spears on Wednesday. According to the Associated Press, a police report has been filed by Spears against San Antonio Spurs director of team security Damian Smith for slapping her at a restaurant in the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas.

Photos appear to show Spears walking behind Wembanyama and Smith. The Spurs rookie says that Spears grabbed him from behind, which is when the alleged slap took place. Only hours later was he told who it was that grabbed him.

“I thought it was no big deal,” explained Wembanyama. “And then security of the Spurs told me it was Britney Spears. At first I was like, ‘You’re joking.’ But yeah, it turns out it was Britney Spears. I never saw her face.”

Spears reportedly reached out and touched him because she wanted to get a photo of the two together. She also said that she didn’t grab him, but only “tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.”

After the slap, which Spears referred to as a “backhand,” Spears went to her table, and Smith came over to apologize after he realized who she was. Spears reportedly accepted the apology, but still contacted the police.

“Traumatic experiences are not new to me, and I have had my fair share of them,” Spears said in a statement released on Twitter. “I was not prepared for what happened to me last night. I recognized an athlete in my hotel lobby as I was heading to dinner. I later went to a restaurant at a different hotel and saw him again. I decided to approach him and congratulate him on his success. It was really loud, so I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. His security then back handed me in the face without looking back, in front of the crowd. Nearly knocking me down and causing my glasses to fall off my face.”

The Las Vegas police confirmed that officers did respond to an incident of battery at the Aria, but said that no arrests or citations were made.

Wembanyama’s Side

The Spurs have made no public comment on the incident. But Wembanyama did speak in detail about it the day after it happened.

“Something did happen, a little bit, when I was walking with some security from the team to some restaurant. We were in the hall, there was a lot of people, so people were calling me, obviously. 

“I didn’t see what happened because I was walking straight and didn’t stop. That person grabbed me from behind, not on my shoulder, she grabbed me from behind. I just know the security pushed her away. I don’t know with how much force. But security pushed her away.”

Wembanyama is in Las Vegas to participate in the NBA Summer League, and he makes his debut in a Spurs uniform on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets. 

The first overall pick and the most anticipated rookie since LeBron James is the heavy favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year in the upcoming 2023-2024 season. BetUS.com has him at -200 to win the award.