Jose Alvarado’s physical foul on Victor Wembanyama quickly became one of the most viral moments of Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks guard tangled with the San Antonio Spurs star during a second-quarter possession before Wembanyama ended up on the floor. Officials reviewed the play but did not upgrade the call to a flagrant foul.
BrickCenter took to its official X, formerly Twitter, sharing the moment the guard fouled the 7-foot-four phenom and then stood over him.
“Jose Alvarado tackled Wemby and Iverson stepped over him 😭😭”
Jose Alvarado tackled Wemby and Iverson stepped over him 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/I9YGV66DKa
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) June 11, 2026
Article Continues Below
The play came during a tense first half between the Knicks and Spurs as Game 4 of the Finals in New York progressed. Alvarado, listed at 5-foot-11, rotated onto the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama before the two became tangled during a physical exchange.
Officials assessed Alvarado a common foul after review. According to the provided context, the call was not upgraded to a flagrant. The Spurs also benefited from the possession because they made a three-pointer during the same sequence, creating a four-point play opportunity.
The clip gained traction because of the visual contrast between Alvarado and Wembanyama, along with the moment of Alvarado standing over the fallen Spurs superstar. BrickCenter’s post also referenced Allen Iverson’s famous 2001 NBA Finals step-over of Tyronn Lue.
The moment ultimately became part of a chaotic Game 4 finish. The Knicks won on a last-second putback by OG Anunoby after a missed 3-point attempt by Jalen Brunson, taking a 3-1 lead over the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Jose Alvarado’s physical foul on Victor Wembanyama quickly became one of the most viral moments of Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. The New York Knicks guard tangled with the San Antonio Spurs star during a second-quarter possession before Wembanyama ended up on the floor.