NBA REVIEWING MISSED FOUL ON VICTOR WEMBANYAMA SHOVE OF JALEN BRUNSON

 

Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) passes the ball to San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

NEW YORK -- Referees missed a foul call on Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama when he shoved Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in the first quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday.

Without a whistle on Wembanyama, the play continued with San Antonio on offense. A replay review appeared to show Brunson, who was on defense and working through a screen on the play, making initial contact with his left hand and grabbing a fistful of Wembanyama's jersey, prompting the retaliatory shove. With his own left hand, Wembanyama aggressively shoved Brunson in the upper back and neck area, sending him toward the floor.

But it remains unclear if either player will be cited for any offense in the review of the matter on the off day before Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.

NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen said Tuesday the league is reviewing the play, and holds the ability to retroactively assess a flagrant-1 foul. The NBA rulebook deems "unnecessary contact" a flagrant-1 foul, because it goes beyond the actions warranting a common foul.

If the NBA issues a flagrant-1 for the play, Wembanyama would not be subject to a suspension. But the Spurs' big man would be skating into Game 4 on thin ice.

Wembanyama has already obtained two penalty points for a flagrant-2 foul in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Naz Reid of the Timberwolves.

All players can accumulate a total of three penalty points in the playoffs. If Wembanyama's shove is upgraded to a flagrant foul, he would have three penalty points. His next flagrant in the Finals would prompt an automatic suspension.

Julian Champagnie had the ball on the left wing facing San Antonio's basket with Landry Shamet defending when the action happened near the foul line and away from the play.

Brunson was also called for a flagrant foul closing out on a Champagnie 3-pointer. Officials said he did not provide ample landing space for the Spurs' deep threat. Brunson had little to say about the non-call postgame.

"Whatever you saw is what you saw," Brunson said.

A flagrant-2, described as justified in the rulebook when "unnecessary and excessive or reckless contact" is "committed by a player against an opponent," would prompt an automatic ejection.

--Field Level Media

SPURS' WEMBANYAMA WONT BE SUSPENDED OR FINED AFTER GAME 4 EJECTION

EJECTED: San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama walks off the court after being ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs at Target Center on Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Minneapolis. Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune/Tribune News Service

Victor Wembanyama is in the clear.

The San Antonio Spurs superstar will not be suspended or even fined after he was ejected from Sunday night’s 114-109 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, ESPN reported.

Wembanyama was charged with a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in an automatic ejection, for elbowing Minnesota center Naz Reid in the head and neck area.

The incident occurred with 8:39 remaining in the second quarter after Wembanyama corralled an offensive rebound and got tangled up with Reid and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels.

After a review, Wembanyama was assessed the Flagrant 2 and appeared to ask teammate Harrison Barnes from the bench, “What does that mean?”

Wembanyama’s ejection, the first in his three-year NBA career, came amid a tense series in which Reid and teammate Julius Randle have played with hyperphysicality.

“The amount of physicality that people play with him, at some level, you have to protect yourself,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said after Sunday’s loss in Minneapolis.

“It’s starting to get actually disgusting in terms of when he tries to fight through things and be professional and mature and deal with some of that stuff. I’m glad he took matters into his own hands. Not in terms of hitting Naz Reid … but he’s going to have to protect himself if they’re not.”

Wembanyama, 22, is eligible to return for Tuesday night’s Game 5 in San Antonio, but the 7-foot-4 center’s absence loomed large Sunday as the Timberwolves evened the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Minnesota won the rebounding battle 49-41 and turned 15 offensive rebounds into 24 second-chance points. Wembanyama totaled just four points and four rebounds in 12 minutes.

Johnson said Sunday that he did not expect Wembanyama to be suspended, contending there was “zero intent” to injure Reid.

“You could see the frustration,” added Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper. “I could see where he was coming from. I don’t think it was intentional. It was more like, ‘They keep grabbing me. I’m trying to protect myself because ain’t no one else going to protect me.’”

Reid did not say much when asked about taking an elbow from Wembanyama.

“Pain is weakness leaving the body,” Reid said. “That’s it.”

This has been a roller-coaster first postseason for Wembanyama. He is averaging 21.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game, but he suffered a concussion during the first round, causing him to miss the second half of Game 2 and all of Game 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

NBA RULES | THE RULEBOOK: SECTION 12

 

MITCH JOHNSON CALLS OUT REFS AFTER WEMBANYAMA ELBOW TO NAZ REID

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA EJECTED FOE FLAGRANT FOUL 2 AFTER ELBOW ON NAZ REID'S NECK HOW 🤔

 

SGA FLAGRANT FOUL 1 ON AUSTIN REEVES

 

DRAYMOND GREEN EJECTED IN 2ND HALF FOR GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

PHOENIX -- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected from Tuesday night's 119-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns after receiving a flagrant foul 2 in the second half.

The foul occurred with 8:23 left in the third quarter when Green swung and hit Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic in the head while defending him.

At first, while Green's back was turned to Nurkic, he repeatedly held Nurkic off of him. Eventually, Green turned and hit Nurkic in the head with his hand.