NBA Fan Suffers Gruesome Injury During Mid-Game Competition
An Atlanta Hawks fan suffered a gruesome injury on the court during a mid-game contest on Tuesday night, footage shared on social media shows.
The unidentified man was taking part in a tic-tac-toe-themed basketball competition when he suddenly slipped whilst making a shot, tearing his ACL. After the aborted shot, the fan took a few steps back before collapsing into a pile on the ground.
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While some initially thought the incident may have been staged for an April Fool’s Day prank, spectators ultimately realized the severity of the episode when medical staff and a stretcher were brought onto the court to aid the injured party. A second video shows the injured fan being tended to by staff as Hawks players work to distract the other spectators.
Undeterred by the dramatic scene unfolding at his feet, the man whom the injured fan was competing against kept playing the game. Eventually, State Farm Arena host Shamea Morton was able to pause the event. “Can you just wait? Can you just be kind and come over here with me and check on James,” Morton told the man. “We know you won, but okay.”
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After medical staff rushed onto the court, Morton continued commentating but seemed largely unaware of how to proceed. Eventually, the feed cut out and returned about a minute later after the court had been cleared.
A request to the Hawks for an update on the fan’s condition was not immediately returned. You can check out the harrowing footage below.