San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama will not be issued a flagrant foul for his physical contact with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, according to a league spokesperson speaking to ESPN.
The incident occurred late in the first quarter with 4:44 remaining, when Brunson attempted to set a screen near the free-throw line. As Wembanyama turned, he made upper-body contact that sent Brunson to the floor. Despite immediate objections from the Knicks bench, officials did not call a foul on the play.
The NBA later reviewed the incident but decided not to upgrade it to a flagrant foul. League senior vice president of referee development and training Monty McCutchen told ESPN that, in his view, a foul should have been called during live play, though the ruling was not changed after review.
Wembanyama remains at two flagrant foul points for the postseason. Under NBA rules, a player who accumulates four flagrant points is automatically suspended.
Earlier in the playoffs, Wembanyama was assessed a flagrant foul 2 after an elbow struck Minnesota Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the face during Game 4 of their second-round series. That incident led to his ejection, though he avoided further punishment such as fines or additional suspension.
The latest ruling ensures Wembanyama remains eligible without disciplinary escalation as the NBA Finals continue.
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