Despite admitting that San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama committed a clear foul on New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the league is doing absolutely nothing about it.
The play in question saw Wembanyama push Brunson to the ground by his head and neck area during the first quarter of Monday’s contest, which San Antonio won, 115-111.
It was clear as day Wembanyama did it intentionally and he should have been whistled for a flagrant foul.
Senior vice president of referee development and training, Monty McCutchen, was on ESPN on Tuesday and admitted officials missed the call and the play would be reviewed by the league to determine if Wembanyama should retroactively be given a flagrant foul.
NBA makes ruling on Victor Wembanyama foul
Feb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to media after the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The NBA’s ruling has since come down.
According to a league spokesperson who talked to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Spurs superstar will not be given a flagrant foul for his inexcusable action.
“No flagrant upgrade on the uncalled foul of Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama to Knicks’ Jalen Brunson on Monday night, a league spokesperson tells ESPN,” Charania reported. “Wembanyama will stay at two flagrant points in postseason.”
What. A. Joke.
NBA’s Wembanyama ruling is preposterous
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks on during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
“Preposterous” is the word we would use to describe the NBA’s decision here, although we can’t say we’re surprised.
According to the NBA’s rulebook, a Flagrant 1 is defined as “unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent,” while a Flagrant 2 is “unnecessary and excessive contact committed by a player against an opponent.”
At the very least, what Wembanyama did to Brunson falls into the category of a Flagrant 1, but there is no question an argument can be made for a Flagrant 2.
But, of course, a Flagrant 2 was never going to happen because then that would mean the league would have had to suspend Wembanyama for an NBA Finals game.
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That’s because Wembanyama would have had four flagrant foul points after picking up two for a Flagrant 2 he committed on an even dirtier play in the Western Conference semifinals, when Wembanyama elbowed Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the throat.
The league could have kept some shred of credibility had it assessed Wembanyama a Flagrant 1, which would have kept him on the floor but also moved the Spurs superstar one point closer to being suspended.
Instead, Wembanyama walks away scot-free without having to face the music for his dirty act.
And that will only add fuel to the idea that the NBA is favoring the Spurs in their series with the Knicks, something that has been a topic on conversation during this series, even among viewers with no dog in the fight.