Victor Wembanyama joined his San Antonio Spurs teammates for a trip to Six Flags, but the 7 feet, 4 inches tall NBA star revealed he couldn’t safely get on any of the rides.
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During a Monday, October 19, media session, Wembanyama explained why he sat out the attractions during the team’s visit to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.“I can’t do it safely, so I’d rather not do it,” Wembanyama said, according to Bleacher Report. “I didn’t pass the height requirement.”
While most amusement park visitors worry about being tall enough to ride roller coasters, Victor Wembanyama has the opposite problem. His extraordinary height makes it difficult to fit safely into seats and restraint systems designed to accommodate riders within certain physical limits.
According to KSAT, the Spurs center confirmed that he did not get on any attractions during the outing. His comments focused on physical safety rather than a lack of interest in roller coasters.
When reporters asked whether he enjoyed roller coasters growing up, Wembanyama answered, “Yeah, of course.”
The visit was part of a team outing ahead of San Antonio’s regular season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, October 20.
According to KSAT, videos circulating on social media showed Wembanyama alongside teammates Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie enjoying the park’s Halloween celebration, Fright Fest.
Although Wembanyama’s height prevented him from participating in the rides, he still joined his teammates for the experience.
His comments also arrived during an especially sensitive period for Six Flags, following a deadly roller coaster accident at another company location.
On October 12, just six days before the Spurs’ amusement park outing, a 42-year-old man died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, located outside Atlanta.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, officers responded to the incident around 3:58 p.m. and discovered Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem beneath the attraction, unresponsive and not breathing.
Investigators said preliminary witness and employee interviews indicated that Kariem was thrown from the roller coaster, struck other passengers, and fell beneath the ride.
The tragedy occurred during a family celebration.
Kariem was visiting the park to celebrate his niece’s birthday and was seated beside her when the incident occurred.
Four minors were also injured and transported to local hospitals. Police described their injuries as not life-threatening.
Kariem worked at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, where he served as an information technology manager, technology teacher and robotics coach. The school confirmed he had been part of its community for more than 12 years.
His family has questioned whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
According to The Guardian, Kariem’s brother-in-law, Joshua Nelson, said his daughter witnessed the accident and described her uncle appearing to lose consciousness before his restraint reportedly came loose.
However, investigators have not determined whether a restraint malfunction contributed to Kariem’s death.
The Goliath roller coaster reaches approximately 200 feet and travels at speeds up to 70 mph. According to the Associated Press, the attraction uses lap bar restraints without additional seat belts.
Following the fatal incident, Six Flags temporarily shut down nine other roller coasters across six North American amusement parks as a precaution.
The closures included attractions in California, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Canada.
However, KSAT confirmed that Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the park Victor Wembanyama visited, was not among the locations affected by those precautionary closures.
There is no reported connection between Wembanyama’s personal ride restrictions and the fatal Georgia incident.
Six Flags Magic Mountain in California reopened its own Goliath roller coaster on October 15 following a two-day precautionary inspection. The California attraction shares a name with the Georgia coaster but was built by a different manufacturer.
Meanwhile, Georgia regulators continue investigating what caused Kariem to be ejected.
According to the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, Goliath passed its most recent state inspection on March 16, 2026, without reported violations, deficiencies, or citations.
Investigators are now reviewing the ride’s equipment, operating procedures, inspection history, and compliance with state safety requirements.
Six Flags Over Georgia reopened to visitors on Friday, October 16, but the Goliath roller coaster remains closed until state investigators complete their examination and authorize its return to operation.
