Child runs onto court, gives Carmelo Anthony a hug during Knicks game

New York Knicks player Carmelo Anthony got some unexpected love from a young fan during a game on Monday.

During the fourth quarter of  the Knicks' away game against the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana,  a child ran out onto the court between plays, startling a few of the Pelicans players. Undeterred by security, who would usually have stopped someone from running all the way out onto the court, the child ran straight to Anthony and gave him a hug. Anthony received the gesture, patting the child on the head before he was guided by the referee back into the stands.

Once he was back in the stands, a woman (possibly his mother) appeared to reprimand the boy for running onto the court by lightly swatting him on the head, but who could really be mad at that kind of courage?

The Knicks went on to lose 91-99 to the Pelicans that night, according to ESPN, but that kid probably felt like a winner.

You can watch the encounter on video here:

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