Victor Wembanyama Avoids Flagrant Foul for Shoving Brunson

ESPN ^ | Jun 9, 2026

[nickcarraway]

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will not receive a flagrant foul for his shove to the upper body of Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, a league spokesperson told ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday night.

Wembanyama will stay at two flagrant points in the postseason. Players who reach four flagrant points are subject to an automatic suspension.

The play occurred with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter of Monday's game. Brunson attempted to set a screen on the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama around the free throw line, and when the center turned around, he shoved the Knicks guard to the ground. No foul was called on the play despite immediate protests from New York.

NBA senior vice president of referee development and training Monty McCutchen told ESPN's "NBA Today" earlier Tuesday that a foul should have been called on the play. The league, however, decided not to upgrade the no-call to a flagrant.

Wembanyama accumulated his two flagrant points earlier this postseason after he elbowed Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the jaw in Game 4 of their second-round series. The Spurs star was assessed a flagrant foul 2 for excessive contact above the neck, triggering an ejection. He did not face any further discipline, including a fine.

---

TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: immunity; nba; victorwembanyama

[nickcarraway]

LOL. I don't know what the point of this was. The NBA already made it clear Victor Wembanyama could shoot someone during the game and it wouldn't be a fowl.

[Dr. Sivana]

Maybe the NBA needs enforcers like the NHL. Just one Kermit Washington special, and Victor is a non-factor.

[DCPatriot]

Victor Wembanyama could shoot someone during the game and it wouldn't be a fowl[sic]

It was established that Brunson had a handful of Wemby's jersey and that's why he put Jalen on the floor.

Secondly, after scoring a layup thru the paint, Brunson tried to slow down the Spurs inbound pass by purposely grabbing the ball after it went thru the net and again, he ended up on his back.

And I don't give a damn who wins...they're all carjackers in shorts.

[Az Joe]

I expect a rough Game 4. Maybe even a fight. Hopefully not involving any star players.

[hole_n_one]

The NBA already made it clear Victor Wembanyama could shoot someone during the game and it wouldn't be a fowl.

The NBA is correct in their conclusion.

If Wembanyama were to “shoot someone during the game”, it stands to reason that it would not be a bird, with possibly one exception…..

[nickcarraway]

LOL.

[nickcarraway]

Maybe this guy:

[C210N]

And I thought SCOTUS decided that Brunson had no merit

[ByteMercenary]

I watched a couple of these games and WTF! I thought b-ball was a non-contact game. I can’t count the number of times that NY had two players that literally had their arms around Wimby and no foul was called. It appears that charging is no longer a factor in the rules - happens all time.

They seem to be fairly evenly matched at shooting. The aggressive play that NY has on display that is not being called would imply that, much like the California elections, a winner has already been selected.