By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Celebrations turned into an immense tragedy for a local family when a 17-year-old San Antonio Spurs fan suffered catastrophic, irreversible head injuries after falling from a moving vehicle.
As reported by the San Antonio Express-News on Sunday, Jose ‘Joey’ Rodriguez, a student at Frank Tejeda Academy in the Harlandale school district, was declared brain-dead following a severe accident during the city’s street rallies. The incident occurred late Thursday night, following Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
Rodriguez was in a prominent hot spot for the city’s historic honk-around celebrations, which resurfaced with renewed enthusiasm during this year’s postseason run, despite being initially denied permission to attend the festivities due to safety concerns regarding the rowdy crowds. However, after stating that a parent would accompany the group, he left with friends instead. While hanging out of a passenger-side window, the vehicle struck a curb, causing him to fall and hit the pavement with extreme force.
Friends rushed the teenager to a nearby clinic, where his aunt, Yvonne Hudson, noted he lacked a pulse for eight minutes before being transferred to a local trauma center. On Friday morning, hospital staff notified the San Antonio Police Department of his condition. Over the weekend, relatives gathered at his bedside at University Hospital, holding onto hope when a touch to his foot caused his knee to twitch. Doctors later informed the family that the movement was a spinal reflex rather than a sign of brain activity, and they indicated plans to disconnect life support systems on Sunday.
Following Saturday’s clinching Spurs victory, Dylan Harper used his postgame press conference to directly urge the fan base to celebrate lawfully and responsibly, reminding the community that they still have a lot of basketball to play. “I love you all. Be safe out there in San Antonio,” he said. “I understand you all are excited, but you’ve got to be safe out there. We love you all.”
The San Antonio Police Department, which had already diverted traffic and increased patrols to curb hazardous behavior, called Rodriguez’s injuries entirely preventable.
Officials continue to urge the public to remain fully inside vehicles and follow all traffic laws as the Spurs prepare to open the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 (115-104, 109-93, 121-108, 130-93)
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 3-4 (115-122, 122-113, 123-108, 82-103, 127-114, 91-118, 103-111)
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks
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