The NBA won't retroactively assess Victor Wembanyama a flagrant foul for shoving New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during Game 3 of the Finals, the league announced Tuesday night, according to basketball insider Marc Stein.
The decision keeps the San Antonio Spurs star at two flagrant-foul points this postseason after he elbowed Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid during Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals. Players are automatically suspended for their next game when they accrue four flagrant-foul points in the playoffs.
Wembanyama pushed Brunson aside during live play Monday, causing the guard to fall to the court. Brunson immediately stood up to confront Wembanyama, who appeared to laugh off the Knicks guard as play continued.
Victor Wembanyama shoves Jalen Brunson, then laughs as Brunson says something to him, but doesn't retaliate (with a replay).
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) June 9, 2026
The full play. pic.twitter.com/bpxRmu39TS
Former NBA referee Monty McCutchen, now the league's head of development and training referee operations, told ESPN's "NBA Today" earlier Tuesday that officials missed what should have been a foul on Wembanyama. However, McCutchen cautioned that the play would need to meet a "clear and conclusive standard" in order to be upgraded to a flagrant upon review.
The Spurs won 115-111, but the Knicks still lead the series 2-1. Brunson was asked about the incident postgame and kept his response brief.
"Whatever you saw is what you saw," he said.
